Qualcomm in Talks with Samsung for Contract Manufacturing of 2nm Chips

SEOUL, Jan 7 — GeokHub Qualcomm is reportedly in discussions with Samsung Electronics to explore contract manufacturing for its upcoming two-nanometre (2nm) semiconductor chips, according to Korea Economic Daily, citing Qualcomm CEO Cristiano Amon.

The talks focus on leveraging Samsung’s advanced foundry capabilities to produce Qualcomm-designed chips using the 2nm process, with design work already finalized and preparations underway for commercial rollout in the near term. Qualcomm is reportedly also engaging other semiconductor foundries as part of its strategy.

Samsung Electronics, whose co-CEO and chip chief Jun Young-hyun recently said the company’s foundry division is “primed for a great leap forward,” declined to comment on specific client negotiations. The South Korean tech giant has been actively securing major contracts, including a $16.5 billion deal with Tesla signed last July.

Analysts note that Qualcomm’s potential partnership with Samsung reflects a broader trend in the semiconductor industry, where U.S. chip designers increasingly rely on advanced Asian foundries to scale production of cutting-edge nodes. The collaboration could accelerate Qualcomm’s competitive position in next-generation mobile and AI chips.