Samsung May Partner With AMD To Manufacture Future 2nm Chipsets

Samsung may be getting ready to make a big resurgence in cutting-edge chip manufacturing. Samsung Electronics is in talks to build its future chips on a smaller process—from American chipmaker AMD on Samsung’s next-generation 2nm process. If it goes through, we may see Samsung Foundry pushing AMD-designed chips its way for future CPUs. The partnership is not formally announced, but negotiations are said to be underway with the potential that it will be finalised as early as January 2026. The news is significant, coming at a time when skyrocketing production costs at TSMC have led global chipmakers to reconsider their manufacturing strategies.

Samsung to Reportedly Manufacture AMD Chipsets

Samsung Electronics’ Device Solutions business unit, which is essentially its foundry-for-hire operation, hopes to build AMD-designed processors on its second-generation 2nm process technology node referred to as SF2P, reported the Seoul Economic Daily. According to the publication, which in turn has sourced industry sources, both companies are actively discussing it, and a deal could be announced as soon as next year.

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The site also states that Samsung will first manufacture a prototype chip for AMD, using a multi-project wafer process. This approach enables several designs to be tested on one silicon wafer, thereby cutting down development costs and shortening validation time. These mock-up chips will likely have some place in AMD's upcoming CPU roadmap.

Performance Concerns Could Decide the Deal

Although the talks seem to be progressing, there is only one key reason why the partnership may not go forward, and that is performance. AMD is very carefully reviewing whether Samsung will be able to produce chips in line with its performance and power efficiency requirements, according to industry sources. For its part, AMD is heavily reliant on TSMC for cutting-edge manufacturing, so relocating even part of its production there would represent a significant strategic shift.

Intel is going to be one of the remaining 7 that can keep on after 2 nm, and Samsung’s success with 2 nm will be crucial. If the foundry can show competitiveness in yield, power efficiency and performance, it might help position Samsung as a credible option to TSMC for advanced chips.

Why AMD Is Looking Beyond TSMC

One of the key reasons for AMD's interest in Samsung is said to be expending production costs at TSMC. Over the last year, TSMC has similarly upped wafer pricing in a manner that directly affects the cost of CPUs and some other high-end chips. That has some of the world’s biggest tech companies looking at how they can diversify their supply chains and wean them off one manufacturer.

Beer wrote that an AMD partnership with Samsung could give the chipmaker more flexibility, a chance of cost benefits and negotiating leverage with its other suppliers.

Samsung’s Growing List of Foundry Clients

Should the deal with AMD go through, it would be Samsung’s third major high-profile partnership for its foundry business in recent months. In July, Tesla entered a $16.5 billion contract with Samsung to produce its AI6 chips that will fuel the full self-driving and autonomous systems in Tesla’s electric cars. These chips are also being produced in Samsung’s new chip facility in Texas.

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In August, Apple also reportedly teamed up with Samsung to develop new CMOS image sensors for future iPhones. Those components are also being made at the same Texas factory, a sign of increased confidence in Samsung’s more advanced manufacturing operations.

Final Thoughts

If this comes to fruition and we are reading between the lines correctly, Samsung and AMD in a co-development partnership could change aspects of the semiconductor world. This would be a significant vote of confidence in Samsung’s 2nm process and a big step towards challenging TSMC’s stranglehold on the foundry industry, assuming it can wrest more clients’. For AMD, the move could help it manage costs and become more resilient to disruptions in its supply chain. The discussions reflect the wider industry trend toward diversification, even if performance concerns are thwarting that effort for now. If finalised in 2026, this deal could have serious implications for future CPUs and the global chip manufacturing landscape.