Samsung could manufacture the chip itself using its GAA technology.
Last month, Qualcomm officially unveiled the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processor, built on TSMC’s 3nm N3P process. While many smartphone brands already have devices featuring this chipset, Samsung appears to be taking a different approach. Reports now indicate that the company may release a customized version of the 8 Elite Gen 5.
Samsung to Team Up with Qualcomm on 2nm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5
According to South Korea’s New Daily Economy, Samsung has developed its own version of the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, utilizing the company’s 2nm GAA foundry technology. This chipset is expected to power the upcoming Galaxy Z Flip 8 clamshell smartphone.
This move aligns with tradition, as Galaxy flagship devices have historically featured Qualcomm processors branded as “Snapdragon for Galaxy.” The key difference now is that Samsung appears to be handling the chip’s manufacturing in-house, rather than opting for an overclocked TSMC version.
In addition, Samsung is reportedly working on its own 2nm Exynos 2600 chipset, highlighting the company’s strong yield with the 2nm process node. The Exynos 2600 is set to become the world’s first 2nm processor.
Applying the same Gate-All-Around (GAA) technology to the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 could deliver impressive efficiency while preserving the processor’s raw performance. However, for a 2nm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 to materialize, Qualcomm would need to test and approve production samples, which hasn’t happened yet. It’s possible that both companies may unveil this customized version in 2026.
If this turns out to be true, the upcoming Samsung Galaxy S26 series may feature either the Exynos 2600 or the 3nm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset. The Galaxy S26 Pro and Galaxy S26 Edge are likely to be powered by the Exynos 2600, while the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 could be reserved for the Galaxy S26 Ultra.
At present, the Galaxy Z Flip 8 seems to be the prime candidate for the 2nm processor. Samsung might also equip the Galaxy Z Fold 8 with the same chip, but it’s still early to confirm. This news should be considered speculative for now.
