Qualcomm quietly kills Samsung’s 2nm Snapdragon project

Qualcomm Samsung 2nm chip plans may have just flatlined. A new report from tipster @Jukanlosreve claims Qualcomm has canceled the 2nm version of its Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 2 chip, which was supposed to be made by Samsung.

Internal listings for the chip previously showed two variants: the 3nm TSMC version (8850-T) and the 2nm Samsung version (8850-S). Now, only the base SM8850 remains, signaling the 2nm variant has been scrapped entirely.

It’s a quiet but significant blow for Samsung’s foundry division. The company has been aggressively trying to catch up with TSMC and securing a Qualcomm contract would’ve been a major win.

Now it’s just another missed opportunity. Samsung’s 2nm process has faced yield challenges before, and this cancellation suggests Qualcomm no longer feels confident betting on it for a flagship chip. With Apple and MediaTek both expected to launch 2nm chips in 2026 using TSMC’s node, this could push Samsung even further behind in the foundry race.

Interestingly, Qualcomm still plans to debut 2nm chips in 2026, just not with Samsung. Rumors suggest the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 3 and a lower-tier SM8945 chip will be built using TSMC’s 2nm tech instead. That keeps Qualcomm competitive on paper, but also means its 2nm roadmap is now fully tied to a single supplier.

This wasn’t just about one chip. If Samsung can’t land big-name clients like Qualcomm for 2nm, its hopes of becoming a serious foundry rival to TSMC look weaker than ever.