In a surprising shake-up in the high-stakes smartphone chip race, Qualcomm has reportedly cancelled its 2nm Snapdragon 8 Elite 2 chip that was being developed with Samsung. This version, internally labeled as the SM8850-S, has now vanished from Qualcomm’s internal documentation—signaling that it will no longer move forward. The only variant that remains listed is the SM8850, a 3nm chip manufactured by TSMC, strongly implying that TSMC will be the exclusive supplier of the next-gen Snapdragon 8 Elite 2.
The move, if accurate, is a major setback for Samsung Foundry, which had hoped to showcase its upcoming 2nm process node as a way to regain traction in the competitive chip fabrication market. The chip was previously rumored to be part of select models in the Galaxy S26 lineup, giving Samsung a potential edge with a homegrown chipset. That prospect now seems off the table.
According to leaker @Jukanlosreve on X (formerly Twitter), “Qualcomm has now cancelled the 2nm Samsung-manufactured version of the Snapdragon 8 Elite 2 chip.” The report also notes that “the chip has disappeared from Qualcomm’s listings altogether,” eliminating the previously documented SM8850-S and leaving only the TSMC-made SM8850-T variant.
While Qualcomm has yet to comment publicly on the decision, the cancellation could be due to several factors—ranging from manufacturing difficulties to performance concerns or a strategic pivot towards TSMC’s more mature 3nm technology.
Adding to the intrigue, Qualcomm’s developer prototype units of the Snapdragon 8 Elite 2 have seen a sharp pricing increase. “It now costs $15,000,” the source claims, indicating limited supply and high demand. This price hike likely reflects Qualcomm’s intention to keep the chip exclusive to key partners during the initial rollout.
In other developments, Qualcomm’s mid-tier flagship offering—the SM8845, expected to be branded as Snapdragon 8s Gen 5—is reportedly undergoing changes in its specifications. While details are scarce, the chip is positioned to deliver near-flagship performance for premium mid-range devices.
Despite the disappointment around the cancelled 2nm collaboration, Samsung still has future opportunities to showcase its advanced process nodes. But for now, TSMC remains Qualcomm’s foundry of choice for its top-tier mobile SoCs—and possibly the entire Android flagship ecosystem moving forward.
