Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 for Galaxy: Samsung’s 3nm GAA Comeback

Recently, Qualcomm abandoned Samsung as the foundry for its high-end Snapdragon 8 series chips, opting instead for TSMC’s 4nm process for the current second-generation Snapdragon 8. Even the forthcoming third-generation Snapdragon 8 will continue to be fabricated by TSMC, as previous iterations have demonstrated the superior quality of TSMC’s process during this period. However, this does not signify a complete severance of ties between Qualcomm and Samsung, as rumors suggest the two companies are exploring potential collaborations for future Snapdragon 8 chips.

Last year, Samsung announced the mass production of its 3nm GAA process, although it has since struggled to secure manufacturing partnerships. Recent reports indicate that the 3nm GAA process has demonstrated promising performance in mass production, achieving notable advancements over the past few months and laying the groundwork for a potential Samsung-Qualcomm collaboration. Twitter user @Tech_Reve suggest that Qualcomm’s future Snapdragon 8 platform may adopt a dual-foundry strategy, utilizing both TSMC’s N3E process and Samsung’s 3nm GAA process.

Insiders indicate that this plan could materialize as early as the beginning of 2024, with the standard fourth-generation Snapdragon 8 chips manufactured using TSMC’s N3E process. In contrast, a version produced with Samsung’s 3nm GAA process may be dubbed “Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 for Galaxy,” specifically tailored for the Galaxy S25 smartphone series.

Rumors suggest that TSMC’s 3nm process currently commands a high price, attracting orders from Apple, but not yet from Qualcomm or MediaTek. From a business standpoint, cost savings are paramount for Qualcomm, and reestablishing ties with Samsung for high-end Snapdragon 8 series chips likely stems from a consideration of various factors.