Samsung, Qualcomm Delay 2nm Chip Deal as Price Talks Drag: The Bell

Samsung Electronics and Qualcomm have postponed a prospective agreement under which Samsung's foundry unit would build Qualcomm's application processors using its 2-nanometer node, with the two sides still at odds over price, The Bell said on Friday.

That postponement may move output into next year and raises doubts about whether Samsung can land Qualcomm as a significant foundry client, even though its newest 2nm process seems to have resolved some performance and yield problems that had earlier prevented the companies from restoring cooperation.

The report said the companies have not run into significant technical obstacles with the 2nm process now being discussed.

Qualcomm is said to have reacted positively to the process, and Samsung's own Exynos 2600 and forthcoming Exynos 2700 chips, both built on 2nm technology, have likewise drawn positive performance reviews.

Rather, Qualcomm is seeking lower prices while Samsung is holding firm. Talks have stretched on long enough that producing the processors within 2026 is becoming difficult, since chip output must align with smartphone launch timetables.

The report added that the two companies might instead redirect their talks toward Qualcomm's next-generation application processors.

The standoff highlights a shift in Samsung's foundry strategy. The unit once broadened its customer base in part by taking on cheaper contracts, but after securing strategic clients such as Tesla and Broadcom, it now appears less inclined to compete on price.

The volume being discussed with Qualcomm is also comparatively small, which lowers Samsung's motivation to offer substantial price concessions.

A Samsung Electronics official familiar with the foundry business said the delay made it difficult to manufacture the Qualcomm processors within the year, and that talks about next-generation products were already under consideration.

The official also said Samsung had stopped the low-price bidding it once pursued after bringing in clients such as Tesla and Broadcom.