Rumor: Samsung and not TSMC makes Qualcomm Snapdragon 875

According to Korean media, Samsung is making Qualcomms new high-end soc on its 5nm process this year. In recent years, Qualcomm had its Snapdragon socs made by Taiwan’s TSMC. Samsung would have offered a better deal.

Samsung has won a contract to produce all copies of the alleged Snapdragon 875 for the coming year, according to Business Korea. It would be a contract worth about a billion dollars. Samsung is said to have already started production of the new Qualcomm soc, in its chip factory in Hwaseong. Since the beginning of this year, Samsung has been making chips of 7nm and smaller in that factory, with EUV.

The Qualcomm Snapdragon 875 is reportedly made on a 5nm process. TSMC can also produce such chips in large quantities. TSMC is believed to be making Apple’s new iPhone soc at 5nm and work on 5nm socs for Huawei, but deliveries to Huawei are halting this week due to US sanctions.

Qualcomm also previously had its Snapdragon 820, 835 and 845 made by Samsung. TSMC was used for the production of the Snapdragon 855 and 865. Samsung still made lower positioned Qualcomm socs at that time, including on its 8nm process.

Samsung has been investing large amounts in its chip factories for years. In 2019, the South Korean group expressed its desire to become the world’s largest processor maker. The company would like to achieve that goal by 2030. In the coming years, Samsung wants to invest a total of 103 billion euros.