Qualcomm and Samsung in Contract Manufacturing Talks, Report Says

• Qualcomm has completed design work for the 2nm chips and is prioritizing talks with Samsung among several semiconductor foundry firms for commercialization in the near future
• Samsung's foundry business has been loss-making but recently signed supply deals with major customers, including a Tesla agreement in July 2025
• Neither company provided official confirmation, with Qualcomm unavailable for comment and Samsung declining to discuss specific customers

Summary

Key Development:

Qualcomm is in negotiations with Samsung Electronics for contract manufacturing of advanced 2-nanometer chips, according to Qualcomm CEO Cristiano Amon in comments reported by the Korea Economic Daily on January 7th.

Main Points:

• Qualcomm has prioritized Samsung among several semiconductor foundry firms for discussions regarding 2nm chip production
• Design work for the chips has already been completed, with commercialization planned for the near future
• Samsung Electronics declined to comment on specific customers, while Qualcomm was unavailable for immediate comment

Market Context:

Samsung's foundry business has been struggling with losses but recently showed signs of improvement. Samsung's co-CEO and chip chief Jun Young-hyun stated last week that recent supply deals with major customers have left the foundry business in better shape. The company previously announced a significant supply agreement with Tesla in July 2025.

Industry Implications:

The potential partnership represents a significant opportunity for Samsung's contract chip manufacturing division to secure a major client in the competitive foundry market. The 2nm process represents cutting-edge semiconductor technology, positioning both companies at the forefront of advanced chip production. This deal could help Samsung strengthen its position against competitors like TSMC in the foundry space while providing Qualcomm with manufacturing capacity for next-generation chips critical to smartphones, automotive, and other applications.

Companies Involved:

• Qualcomm (lead customer)
• Samsung Electronics (potential manufacturer)
• Tesla (referenced as existing Samsung foundry customer)