Samsung to manufacture some Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 chips
Samsung may manufacture some of Qualcomm’s 2024 flagship smartphone processors. More precisely, the word from the rumor mill is that the Korean firm will manufacture the Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 “for Galaxy”. TSMC will get orders for the standard Snapdragon 8 Gen 4. It will be Qualcomm’s first 3nm chip.
Qualcomm may go back to Samsung for the Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 “for Galaxy”
Qualcomm has been switching back and forth between Samsung and TSMC for manufacturing its smartphone processors over the past several years. It used Samsung’s foundry for the Snapdragon 888+ (5nm) and Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (4nm) in 2021. But, in 2022, it switched to TSMC, with the Taiwanese firm manufacturing both the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 and Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 last year using its 4nm process node. The Samsung-exclusive “for Galaxy” version of the latter was also manufactured using the same process.
Reports suggested that Samsung’s poor yield rates and issues with process nodes made Qualcomm switch to TSMC last year. Chips made by the Korean firm have been having power and performance issues in recent years. Qualcomm is sticking with the Taiwanese firm for this year’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4nm) due to the same reason. But, Samsung has recently improved its yield rates and fabrication process. According to industry insiders, it’s now almost on par with TSMC in 4nm yields.
Moreover, Samsung has also improved its 3nm yields. The company is using the more efficient Gate-All-Around (GAA) transistor architecture in its 3nm chips. It has been sending 3nm samples to chipmakers around the world in a desperate bid to win back some customers it lost to TSMC in recent years.
The latter is sticking with the existing FinFET architecture for one more generation. It appears the plan is working out for the Korean firm. Twitter tipster @Tech_Reve appears certain that Samsung will get orders for Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 “for Galaxy” next year.
Google may stick with Samsung for its Tensor G4 next year
Samsung’s foundry struggles have been so huge in recent years that several companies switched to TSMC for manufacturing their chips. Google, which has been taking help from Samsung in designing its custom Tensor processors for the Pixel lineup, is also mulling switching to the Taiwanese firm for next year’s Tensor G4.
However, recent improvements from the Korean behemoth may make Google stick with it. TSMC’s high prices have also been proving to be a stumbling block for the Pixel maker.
Meanwhile, if Samsung does manage to steal some chip customers from TSMC, it may finally close the massive gap with its Taiwanese rival in the foundry market. There are reports that the Korean firm wants to make custom processors for its Galaxy flagships.
If true, it may soon stop using Qualcomm chips, which would mean a loss of potential business opportunities for its foundry division. Plenty could change by the time the Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 enters the production stage. So nothing may be set in stone just yet.
Samsung may manufacture some of Qualcomm’s 2024 flagship smartphone processors. More precisely, the word from the rumor mill is that the Korean firm will manufacture the Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 “for Galaxy”. TSMC will get orders for the standard Snapdragon 8 Gen 4. It will be Qualcomm’s first 3nm chip.
Qualcomm may go back to Samsung for the Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 “for Galaxy”
Qualcomm has been switching back and forth between Samsung and TSMC for manufacturing its smartphone processors over the past several years. It used Samsung’s foundry for the Snapdragon 888+ (5nm) and Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (4nm) in 2021. But, in 2022, it switched to TSMC, with the Taiwanese firm manufacturing both the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 and Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 last year using its 4nm process node. The Samsung-exclusive “for Galaxy” version of the latter was also manufactured using the same process.
Reports suggested that Samsung’s poor yield rates and issues with process nodes made Qualcomm switch to TSMC last year. Chips made by the Korean firm have been having power and performance issues in recent years. Qualcomm is sticking with the Taiwanese firm for this year’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4nm) due to the same reason. But, Samsung has recently improved its yield rates and fabrication process. According to industry insiders, it’s now almost on par with TSMC in 4nm yields.
Moreover, Samsung has also improved its 3nm yields. The company is using the more efficient Gate-All-Around (GAA) transistor architecture in its 3nm chips. It has been sending 3nm samples to chipmakers around the world in a desperate bid to win back some customers it lost to TSMC in recent years.
The latter is sticking with the existing FinFET architecture for one more generation. It appears the plan is working out for the Korean firm. Twitter tipster @Tech_Reve appears certain that Samsung will get orders for Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 “for Galaxy” next year.
Google may stick with Samsung for its Tensor G4 next year
Samsung’s foundry struggles have been so huge in recent years that several companies switched to TSMC for manufacturing their chips. Google, which has been taking help from Samsung in designing its custom Tensor processors for the Pixel lineup, is also mulling switching to the Taiwanese firm for next year’s Tensor G4.
However, recent improvements from the Korean behemoth may make Google stick with it. TSMC’s high prices have also been proving to be a stumbling block for the Pixel maker.
Meanwhile, if Samsung does manage to steal some chip customers from TSMC, it may finally close the massive gap with its Taiwanese rival in the foundry market. There are reports that the Korean firm wants to make custom processors for its Galaxy flagships.
If true, it may soon stop using Qualcomm chips, which would mean a loss of potential business opportunities for its foundry division. Plenty could change by the time the Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 enters the production stage. So nothing may be set in stone just yet.
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