Qualcomm CEO Cristiano Amon organized a visit to South Korea to hold a strategic meeting regarding the production of the company’s next-generation 2nm Snapdragon processors.

Qualcomm had shifted its production to TSMC due to performance issues experienced in the past, but recent reports show that the company has sat down at the table with Samsung Foundry again for Snapdragon chips in the 2nm process.

Amon’s South Korea contacts are evaluated as a critical step in the name of strengthening the collaboration with Samsung Foundry and optimizing production capacity. These meetings indicate a major collaboration change that has been expected for a long time in the semiconductor world.

• Qualcomm and Samsung Foundry plan to produce Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 processors with the 2nm SF2 process.

• The efficiency and heat management improvements in Samsung’s production technology are among the main factors influencing Qualcomm’s decision.

• Increasing wafer costs at TSMC encourage Qualcomm to diversify in production.

• Qualcomm’s return to Samsung facilities after a five-year break could change the balances in the sector.

Collaboration Process with Samsung is Reviving

The meetings between Qualcomm and Samsung Foundry focus especially on 2nm technology. Samsung, which has largely left behind the yield and heating problems experienced in the past, has once again become a strong candidate for Qualcomm’s high-performance processor goals.

This move by Qualcomm is not only a technological preference but also a part of its strategy to manage supply chain risks by reducing its dependence on TSMC. High production costs force Qualcomm to look for alternative solution partners.

Memory Solutions Are Being Discussed with SK Hynix

As part of his visit to South Korea, Cristiano Amon is meeting not only with Samsung but also with SK Hynix. While Qualcomm is preparing for the mass production of the AI200 artificial intelligence accelerator in particular, it aims to carry out close coordination with SK Hynix regarding HBM and SOCAMM memory supply.

Although a direct meeting with the Samsung MX unit has not taken place, the two companies continue to carry out joint projects in other technology areas such as smartwatches and augmented reality glasses.

How do you think Qualcomm shifting its production partnership to Samsung will affect the performance of Snapdragon processors? Share your comments with us.