Samsung is reportedly exploring partnerships with other foundries to secure the future of its Exynos lineup.
Due to the low and unstable yields of its 3nm GAA process, the Exynos 2500 will not be featured in next year’s Galaxy S25 models, which will exclusively use the Snapdragon 8 Elite.
This setback has prompted Samsung to consider working with other companies to mass-produce its chips.
The report suggests that TSMC, the only other foundry capable of mass-producing cutting-edge semiconductors, could play a key role in Samsung’s strategy.
While AMD was mentioned in the report, it is unclear how they would fit into the equation. Samsung’s LSI division is said to be seeking a “multi-faceted collaboration” to stabilize its foundry business and expand beyond mobile, automotive, and communications.
However, TSMC’s current success, including a 60% yield in the trial production of its 2nm process, could make it less inclined to enter a partnership with Samsung, as it is thriving independently.
With 2nm wafers expected to be in higher demand than 3nm ones, TSMC may not find much benefit in a collaboration. Despite these challenges, Samsung is reportedly continuing discussions to secure a path forward for its Exynos chips.
