Samsung’s partnership with Qualcomm to produce the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 2 chipset remains active, as Qualcomm hasn’t cancelled its plan to introduce this chip in collaboration with Samsung. Previously, it was rumored that Qualcomm had abandoned its strategy for a Samsung-made 2 nm Snapdragon 8 Elite 2 chipset, but that is no longer the case. According to a reliable tipster, the plan is still on track.
Samsung May Build Custom Galaxy S26 Chips — But They’re Not Exynos
Digital Chat Station took to the Weibo platform to state that the chipset coded as SM8850s has not been cancelled, and the main reason is its more affordable price. Interestingly, just a few days ago, the same tipster used the SM8850s model number to refer to the Samsung-made Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 2 processor, even though the SM8850 part number originally refers to the standard (TSMC-made) processor.
It is worth noting that several brands seem to be leaning toward Samsung’s variant because of its lower price point. The tipster mentioned, “Because the price of the set is much lower, some manufacturers are waiting and watching.” However, whether Samsung’s chip will outperform or be as power-efficient as its TSMC-produced counterpart remains to be seen. If Samsung succeeds in achieving superior results, it could help the company attract more clients and regain its competitive edge in the foundry market during the 2nm era.
Recently, it was also reported that Samsung has shifted its focus to enhancing the fundamentals of its next-generation 2nm process. By upgrading its yield and cost-effectiveness, Samsung aims to secure a stronger position in the global semiconductor market.
Looking ahead, the next-generation Galaxy S26 series is expected to feature the Exynos 2600 in selected markets, while the rest of the lineup will likely be powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite 2 chipset.
