Qualcomm’s new generation flagship mobile processor Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 2 will meet users with two different production versions. In addition to its traditional preference for TSMC, the company is also turning to a special version developed with Samsung’s 2-nanometer GAA (Gate-All-Around) production technology this time. It is stated that this version, codenamed “Kaanapali S”, will be produced exclusively for the Samsung Galaxy S26 series.

Two different Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 2s are being designed

Until now, it was thought that Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 2 would be produced only with TSMC’s 3nm N3P process. However, recent information has revealed that the dual-manufacturer strategy has been implemented and that the variant developed by Samsung with the 2nm GAA process will have a limited area of ​​use. This strategy by Qualcomm is considered a step taken to both increase supply security and balance the technological competition between the two major manufacturers.

Samsung announced in the first quarter of 2025 that it has made significant progress in the 2nm GAA production process. The company announced that it will start taking customer orders in the second half of the year, and the targeted efficiency rate in this production process is expected to approach 50%.

This rate has currently exceeded 40%. Samsung Foundry, which has started prototype production for the Exynos 2600 chip, plans to start mass production in the first quarter of 2026. The standard version of the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 2 will be produced by TSMC.

TSMC has started taking 2nm orders as of April 1, 2025 and continues to lead the market with advanced lithography solutions. However, Samsung’s preparations to offer a 2nm solution in parallel may cause the technological gap to close rapidly.