On October 17, reports emerged stating that TSMC is planning to implement a substantial 50% price increase for its 2nm wafer foundry services. This move is expected to exert significant pressure on major clients, including Qualcomm and MediaTek. Previously, following TSMC's decision to raise foundry prices for its N3P process, projections indicated that Qualcomm's mobile chips would likely experience a 16% price surge, while MediaTek's chip prices were anticipated to climb by roughly 24%.

Recently, Qualcomm's CEO, Cristiano Amon, remarked that the company is committed to maintaining a diverse range of options in wafer foundry services. Despite Intel's successful mass production of its 18A process, Qualcomm is not currently considering it as a viable alternative. Industry analysts suggest that this stance may pave the way for Samsung to emerge as Qualcomm's secondary choice, potentially earning a spot on its 'backup list.' (Source: ChosunBiz)