Negotiations between Qualcomm and Samsung Electronics over a new wafer contract for 2nm semiconductor manufacturing have reached an impasse due to price disagreements. This was reported by Korean media outlet The Bell on September 9.
The talks center on Qualcomm’s plan to use Samsung Foundry’s 2nm process node. Samsung’s 2nm technology is currently stable, with good performance shown by its in-house Exynos 2600 mobile processor. The process also handles orders from external clients such as Tesla for their AI5 and AI6 chips.
Previously, Samsung Foundry pursued a low-margin, high-volume strategy for advanced nodes to build market share and compete with Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC). Qualcomm expected a favorable price in line with this approach.
However, Samsung Foundry has recently seen a surge of orders, pushing its advanced node capacity beyond current demand. This reduces Samsung’s incentive to offer significant discounts to Qualcomm. Additionally, the alleged small size of Qualcomm’s order further lessens Samsung’s willingness to lower prices substantially.
At the moment, the deal remains stalled, with no confirmed resolution or timeline announced. Users interested in semiconductor industry shifts can follow updates on foundry contracts and production capabilities, as they impact chip availability for future mobile devices, including Qualcomm-powered smartphones.
Source: ithome.com
