Tag: TSMC N2P

  • Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 May Use Samsung 2nm Process

    Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 May Use Samsung 2nm Process

    Key Takeaways

    1. Qualcomm’s new flagship mobile chipset may be revealed in September or October, succeeding the Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 and Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5.
    2. The upcoming chipsets, codenamed SM8950 and SM8975, are expected to utilize TSMC’s N2P nodes, offering an 18% performance boost and over a third reduction in power consumption compared to the N3E node.
    3. There may be a collaboration with Samsung Foundry for the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 chipsets, introducing a potential Samsung 2 nm variant.
    4. The SM8950 and SM8975 are likely to be identified as Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 and Gen 6 Pro, with support from N2P nodes.
    5. This Qualcomm and Samsung partnership could also result in a new Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 variant for upcoming Samsung foldable devices.


    Qualcomm is still some time away from revealing its new flagship mobile chipset. Based on previous trends, the company might hold off until September or October to replace the Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 and Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5. However, Digital Chat Station has claimed to have acquired early information regarding two chipsets with codenames SM8950 and SM8975.

    Chipset Production Insights

    The leaker had previously anticipated that Qualcomm would produce these chipsets using TSMC’s N2P nodes. Internal analysis suggests that these N2P nodes could offer approximately an 18% performance improvement compared to TSMC’s N3E node, which is currently used in chipsets like the Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy found in the Galaxy S25 Ultra (currently priced at $1,045 on Amazon). Additionally, this new node is expected to decrease power consumption by more than a third.

    Potential Foundry Collaboration

    Digital Chat Station also hints that TSMC might not be the sole foundry Qualcomm is using for its upcoming Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 chipsets. According to the leaker’s Weibo post, this generation could include a Samsung 2 nm variant as well.

    The SM8950 and SM8975 variants are reportedly on track to be the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 and Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 Pro, which will be supported by N2P nodes. Therefore, specific information about this unknown Samsung Foundry variant is likely to emerge later under a completely different codename. Interestingly, there is a possibility that this collaboration between Qualcomm and Samsung Foundry could lead to the introduction of a new Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 variant for Samsung’s forthcoming foldable devices.

    Conclusion

    Digital Chat Station has provided some intriguing insights into Qualcomm’s future plans. With the potential for enhanced performance and new manufacturing partnerships, the upcoming Snapdragon chipsets could bring significant advancements to mobile technology.

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  • Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6: Qualcomm’s Next Performance Leader

    Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6: Qualcomm’s Next Performance Leader

    Key Takeaways

    1. The Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 has launched but will not appear in many flagship devices until early next year, with the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra expected to feature it.

    2. Rumors about the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 suggest it will utilize 2 nm-class technology, marking a shift for Qualcomm in chipset production.

    3. The Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 is based on 3 nm technology, following the 4 nm processes used in earlier Snapdragon models.

    4. TSMC’s N2P nodes, expected to be used in the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6, promise an 18% performance boost and a 36% reduction in power draw compared to the previous N3E node.

    5. Concerns arise about the official launch timeline for the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6, as the necessary N2P nodes may not be ready until July 2026.


    The Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 has recently launched, being only a month old. It likely won’t be seen in many flagship devices until early next year, with the upcoming Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra (currently priced at $949 on Amazon) being one of those expected to feature it. However, there are already rumors on Weibo about its successor. It’s worth mentioning that Qualcomm has yet to release the more affordable Snapdragon 8 Gen 5, which is anticipated to power a future OnePlus smartphone with a large battery of around 8,000 mAh.

    Future Developments

    Digital Chat Station has reported that the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 will represent Qualcomm’s shift to 2 nm-class technology. For reference, the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 is the second chipset based on 3 nm that Qualcomm has provided to Android manufacturers, following the use of 4 nm processes in its earlier Snapdragon X series and several recent Snapdragon 8 models. Specifically, the report indicates Qualcomm plans to utilize TSMC’s N2P nodes for the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6, which are scheduled to enter mass production in the latter half of 2026.

    Performance Expectations

    If this is true, it means Qualcomm will bypass TSMC’s N2 node for the next Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset. According to TSMC’s projections, the N2P nodes promise an 18% boost in performance over the N3E versions without raising power usage. In fact, these N2P nodes are expected to cut power draw by about 36% compared to the N3E node used in the Snapdragon 8 Elite.

    The Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 is rumored to pair N2P nodes with LPDDR6 RAM and UFS 5.0 flash storage. However, since the N2P nodes are not expected to be ready until July, it raises concerns about whether the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 will be prepared for an official launch in September 2026.

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