For the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, which is mass built on the 4nm node, TSMC is Qualcomm’s only supplier. There are many unknowns for the next year, particularly on which partner will accept orders for the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor. Considering the difficulties TSMC has been having with its own 3nm process, @OreXda on Twitter thinks Samsung is “likely” expected to meet those orders.
– Recently Samsung Vice President visited ASML for negotiating to research 1.4mm node at 2025. (produce 2026) – Currently, Qualcomm is likely to manufacture its next generation Snapdragon 8 to Samsung Foundry. It seems to be continuous delay in production of 3nm of TSMC — Connor / 코너 / コナー (@OreXda) November 22, 2022 Additionally, it would not be wise for Qualcomm to depend on only one vendor for the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 since it would be an expensive endeavor. A recent source said that TSMC’s 3nm wafer pricing had exceeded the $20,000 threshold. Samsung is reportedly experiencing issues with their 3nm GAA manufacturing as well, with a horrifying yield rate of 20%. Fortunately, the Korean behemoth has requested assistance from Silicon Frontline Technology, a company based in the United States that is assisting Samsung in raising yields. Qualcomm was supposed to have examined samples of this cutting-edge technology, perhaps in the hopes of a future contract, although Samsung is not said to have secured smartphone partners that want to deploy its 3nm GAA processors at this time. Samsung’s GAA method is anticipated to have plenty of advantages, including a reduction in power usage of up to 45 percent and an increase in performance of 23 percent if it can scale beyond the yield issues. Since a second-generation 3nm GAA process might start mass production in 2024 and provide even greater performance and power-efficiency benefits, Samsung undoubtedly has a strategy where it hopes to overtake TSMC in terms of market dominance.
