Qualcomm and Apple to Introduce 2nm Snapdragon Chipsets Next Year

It is said that the US-based chipmaker would introduce two SoCs, SM8950 and SM8945, based on a 2nm node next year.

The replacement for Qualcomm’s flagship Snapdragon 8 Elite processor is expected to be unveiled this year. A source has claimed that the Snapdragon 8 Elite 3, the chip’s successor, might be manufactured using a 2nm technology. According to reports, the enhanced lithography will be used not just for Qualcomm’s flagship 2026 SoC but also for a different version that may be released as a less potent version of the alleged third-generation Snapdragon 8 Elite CPU. Next year, Apple is also expected to release its A20 chipset, which is built on a 2nm node.

The enhanced lithography is reportedly used for both Qualcomm’s flagship 2026 SoC and another type that may be released as a less potent version of the alleged third-generation Snapdragon 8 Elite CPU.

Digital Chat Station is the source of this data (translated from Chinese). The tipster posted information on Qualcomm’s 2026 chipsets on the Chinese social media site Weibo. According to reports, the US-based chipmaker will release the SM8950 and SM8945 SoCs, which are built on a 2nm node, next year.

The former might be released as the flagship CPU for high-end smartphones and is predicted to be the replacement for the Snapdragon 8 Elite 2. The latter, meanwhile, may make its debut as a supposedly less powerful Snapdragon 8 Elite 3 variant. It is anticipated to be manufactured using a 2nm technology as well, however it could have GPU cores that are underclocked or a GPU that is not as powerful as it could be.

Qualcomm reportedly uses a dual-sourcing approach to reduce production costs. It could rely on Samsung Foundry and TSMC to fabricate its flagship smartphone chipset in 2026.

A WCCFTech rumour claims that Apple is also preparing to release the A20 Pro, a 2nm chipset, next year. The Cupertino-based tech behemoth may be TSMC’s first supplier for its 2nm node, and it is anticipated to power the iPhone 18 models. Known as TSMC N2, it is said to provide a nanosheet transistor topology that preserves power advantages while delivering full-node performance.

It is hinted that it would rely on Samsung Foundry and TSMC to fabricate its flagship smartphone chipset in 2026.

Apple is also expected to release its A20 chipset, which is built on a 2nm node, the following year.