Snapdragon 8 Elite 2 chip cancelled? Qualcomm tipped to be working on another chipset

India Today

5 hours ago

In the fiercely competitive smartphone market, the race for the fastest and most efficient chip is always intensifying. And for a brief moment, it looked like Samsung might be poised to leap ahead. The rumour had it that Qualcomm, in partnership with Samsung, was progressing in manufacturing a 2nm variant of its next-gen powerhouse—the Snapdragon 8 Elite 2. This version was expected to be even more advanced than the 3nm chips most Android flagships will use. Some even believed it would power select models in the Galaxy S26 lineup. But it appears those plans have come to an abrupt end.advertisementAccording to a leaker on X aka Twitter (@Jukanlosreve), Qualcomm has now cancelled the 2nm Samsung-manufactured version of the Snapdragon 8 Elite 2 chip . Internally referred to as SM8850-S, the chip has disappeared from Qualcomm's listings altogether. Previously, Qualcomm's documentation showed two separate versions: the SM8850-T, a 3nm chip made by TSMC, and the now-missing 2nm Samsung version.
Now, only the base model SM8850 remains, strongly implying that the TSMC-built 3nm chip is the sole survivor. While Qualcomm hasn't explained the decision, the leak clearly indicates that the company has quietly dropped Samsung from the manufacturing equation, at least for this flagship chip.The move suggests that all major Android phones launching in late 2025 and beyond will feature the TSMC version of the Snapdragon 8 Elite 2. It's a blow to Samsung, which had hoped to flex its 2nm muscle and regain some ground in the chipmaking race. Whether the decision came down to production challenges, performance concerns, or simple strategic realignment, we can only speculate for now.In related news, the same source reveals that the Snapdragon 8 Elite 2 prototype, which developers and OEMs use for early testing, has seen a sharp price increase. It now costs $15,000, suggesting limited availability and high demand. That's a significant bump, and could be Qualcomm's way of keeping the chip exclusive to top-tier partners during the early phase.Also worth noting is that Qualcomm's SM8845 chip—likely to be branded as the Snapdragon 8s Gen 5—is currently undergoing a specification shake-up. Details remain vague, but this chip is expected to serve as a more cost-effective flagship option, possibly targeting upper-mid-range handsets with performance just shy of the Elite series.While a Samsung-built 2nm Snapdragon would've been a headline-grabber, it seems the story has taken a different turn. For now, TSMC's 3nm tech holds the crown as the platform of choice for Qualcomm's flagship ambitions. Samsung may yet have a 2nm moment in the future, but this leak suggests it won't be with the Snapdragon 8 Elite 2.- Ends