Foundry

TSMC is increasingly dictating pricing across the AI chip industry, as the Taiwanese foundry remains the dominant manufacturer of advanced chips for companies like Nvidia, AMD and countless AI startups. With demand for leading-edge fabrication capacity outstripping supply, TSMC's pricing power shapes costs and margins across the entire AI hardware ecosystem.

Reports suggest Qualcomm's upcoming flagship Snapdragon chips could be made using Samsung's 2-nanometer process, a move that would divert orders currently going to Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company. The news highlights intensifying competition between Samsung Foundry and TSMC over next-generation advanced chip manufacturing, with major implications for the semiconductor supply chain and each foundry's market position.

Qualcomm has confirmed it is evaluating Samsung's 2nm manufacturing process for future Snapdragon chips. The move would mark a significant win for Samsung Foundry, which has been seeking major customers for its most advanced node as it competes with TSMC. Industry watchers see the confirmation as a signal that Qualcomm is diversifying its supply chain, with Samsung hoping to regain ground after earlier yields struggles on advanced nodes.

Intel says its upcoming 14A process node will come within 5% of the performance of TSMC's competing A14 technology, a projection the company describes as conservative. The claim feeds an ongoing debate over whether Intel Foundry can close the gap with TSMC, with Intel pointing to frequency advantages of its 18A node as evidence of momentum. Industry watchers are weighing whether the forecast is credible given Intel's recent manufacturing struggles.

Qualcomm is evaluating Samsung's 2-nanometer manufacturing process for its next-generation chips, according to industry reports. The move would mark a notable win for Samsung Foundry, which has been seeking major customers for its advanced node as it competes with TSMC. No supply decision has been announced, and details on timing or which products could use the process remain unknown.

TSMC has reportedly begun pilot production of chips on its A14 node, a 1.4nm-class process, with volume production targeted for 2028. The A14 line would succeed the current 2nm generation and keep the Taiwanese foundry ahead of rivals Samsung and Intel in the race for ever-smaller transistor sizes, with major customers such as Apple expected among early adopters.

Qualcomm Senior Vice President and Head of Mobile Handsets Chris Patrick has confirmed the company is conducting in-depth work on Samsung's 2nm manufacturing process. The statement points to a close partnership between the two companies, with Qualcomm exploring Samsung's next-generation chip technology for future mobile processors, alongside its existing foundry relationships.

Industry commentary is highlighting how physical AI — artificial intelligence embedded in robots, vehicles and other real-world systems — is restructuring the way work is divided across the semiconductor industry. As demand shifts toward chips designed for perception, control and edge computing, companies are reassessing which players design, manufacture and package these components, potentially redrawing long-standing roles among chip designers, foundries and automotive suppliers.

Samsung Foundry is leaning on the AI chip boom to narrow its technological and market gap with industry leader TSMC. The strategy centers on winning advanced foundry contracts for AI processors, a segment where demand is surging. Analysts see it as a pivotal test of whether Samsung can convert its advanced process investments into share gains against its Taiwanese rival.

Digital Foundry's latest Direct Q&A addresses reader questions on PlayStation 5 emulation on PC, whether Halo could move to Call of Duty's technology, and whether PCs might eventually replace consoles. The topics touch on some of the most debated questions in gaming hardware, from emulation progress to the long-term role of dedicated consoles versus PC gaming.