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Qualcomm's new Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 has already stirred the industry — and Samsung might be cooking up its own twist. Recent Korean reports suggest Samsung could manufacture a 2nm version of the flagship Snapdragon for use in next year’s foldable lineup, potentially shifting the Galaxy Z Flip away from Exynos.
Why this rumor matters: more than just a chip swap
At first glance this sounds like a small supply-chain tweak. In reality, a Samsung-built 2nm iteration of Qualcomm’s flagship could change performance, battery life and the split between Samsung’s Exynos and Qualcomm-powered phones.
Qualcomm confirmed Samsung will use the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 across some devices, and the standard chip is already known to be produced on TSMC’s 3nm node. But Korean outlets are now reporting Samsung has produced samples of a variant on its 2nm GAA (gate-all-around) process and sent them to Qualcomm for testing.
What Samsung’s 2nm GAA process could bring
Samsung’s 2nm GAA promises better power efficiency and higher transistor density compared to current 3nm chips. If yield rates are solid, Samsung’s foundry could land a Qualcomm contract to build a “for Galaxy” version of the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 — a pattern we’ve seen before when Qualcomm offers slightly tuned “for Galaxy” silicon to Samsung.
That scenario would be notable for two reasons: first, it would mark a high-profile win for Samsung’s foundry business at a time when TSMC leads advanced nodes. Second, it could mean a foldable phone lineup powered by a unique Snapdragon tuned and manufactured specifically for Samsung’s hardware.
Where Exynos fits into the picture
Samsung isn’t abandoning Exynos. The company is preparing the Exynos 2600 on its 2nm GAA node, and that chip is expected to play a major role in the Galaxy S26 series. But if Samsung can prove consistent yields on 2nm, Qualcomm might award the Snapdragon 2nm build to Samsung — potentially bringing Snapdragon variants to devices that previously used Exynos, like the Galaxy Z Flip.
Could the Galaxy Z Flip 8 and Z Fold 8 both get the 2nm Snapdragon?
Reports suggest the Galaxy Z Flip 8 could be the first foldable to adopt a Samsung-made Snapdragon. If that goes well, it’s reasonable to expect the Galaxy Z Fold 8 could follow. Samsung has been experimenting with a dual-chip approach across models, so a mixed strategy — Exynos on some SKUs, Samsung-foundry Snapdragon on others — isn’t out of the question.
What we’ll watch for next
- Qualcomm’s official statements about manufacturing partners for the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5.
- Any confirmation from Samsung about 2nm yield improvements or foundry contracts.
- Leaked benchmarks or samples showing how a 2nm Snapdragon variant performs in foldables.
For now, the story remains a rumor with promising implications: better efficiency, stronger Samsung foundry credibility, and perhaps a tighter hardware fit for Samsung’s foldable ambitions. Expect clearer signals in the coming months as companies finalize testing and sourcing ahead of the Galaxy S26 and next-generation foldables.
Source: sammobile
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