Rumor: Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 will only be manufactured by Samsung Foundry

An interesting rumor surfaced back in April: the Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 chip, due in 2024, will be manufactured by two of the world’s leading foundries — TSMC and Samsung Foundry. Both will use their 3nm process node to create the chip.

Samsung Foundry and Samsung Foundry will both use their 3nm process node to create the chip.

This is because Samsung Foundry’s 3nm process utilizes gate-around-array (GAA) transistors, which have lower current leakage and higher current output because the gate surrounds the channel on all four sides. As a result, chips on GAA transistors have higher performance and save power. TSMC will not use GAA transistors until 2nm production starts in 2024-2025.

At the same time, TSMC will not use GAA transistors until 2nm production starts in 2024-2025.

But that’s not why Qualcomm is considering outsourcing Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 production to Samsung Foundry and only Samsung Foundry. The reason is that TSMC may not have enough production capacity to fulfill the order. Apple and MediaTek are said to take 85% of TSMC’s 3nm production next year, leaving Qualcomm with only 15%.

Apple and MediaTek are expected to take 85% of TSMC’s 3nm production next year.