During a recent media briefing at the W Hotel in Taipei, Taiwan, Qualcomm CEO Cristiano Amon discussed the risks of relying solely on one manufacturer for chip production. In response, he hinted at Qualcomm’s contemplation of a “dual-sourcing production strategy” for its upcoming Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 chipset, with potential partners being Samsung Electronics and TSMC.
While the Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 is set for exclusive manufacture by TSMC, Amon suggested a potential shift in strategy for the next iteration. He underscored the current emphasis on foundry production at TSMC.
The notion of a dual-sourcing approach for the Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 has been a recurring topic, with Qualcomm expressing internal appreciation for Samsung’s 2nm SF2 process, expected to bring significant performance and power efficiency enhancements.
Despite the CEO’s mention of the dual-sourcing strategy, specifics regarding implementation remain undisclosed. It is uncertain whether Qualcomm will adopt a regional approach akin to Samsung’s practice of offering different chipsets in flagship models based on regions. However, Qualcomm views the potential partnership with Samsung as a contingency while maintaining its primary collaboration with TSMC.
As Qualcomm’s chipset production strategy evolves, further clarity is expected to emerge regarding its strategic direction. Are Qualcomm’s upcoming chips going to be made by two companies instead of just one?
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