Samsung loses Apple chip-making share to TSMC, gains Qualcomm as 14nm/16nm chip customer?

A new customer by the name of Qualcomm
Although losing business is bad for Samsung, the Koreans' expertise in chip-making got a strong showcase this year, with its industry-first 14nm mobile AP production process and strong-performing Exynos 7420 SoC generating lauding headlines. This may have gotten the attention of Qualcomm in a way one may not expect.
According to Mr. Li, the US chip mogul is looking to transition to 14 & 16nm production quicker than planned, which could spell trouble for TSMC, while rendering Samsung a primary supplier of 14nm Snapdragon chips in late 2015 or early 2016. It is said that Qualcomm's 20nm orders constitute up to 50% of TSMC's demand for 20nm production in 2015, which will weaken the Taiwanese supplier's revenue in this direction, but TSMC could make up for it with the increase in 16nm orders.
Bear in mind that all of this is analyst predictions, not bulletproof information. We have no way to establish its credibility with absolute certainty. We have contacted Qualcomm for commentary and we'll publish a statement if there's one.
Bear in mind that all of this is analyst predictions, not bulletproof information. We have no way to establish its credibility with absolute certainty. We have contacted Qualcomm for commentary and we'll publish a statement if there's one.
UPDATE (March 20, 2015 13:38 CDT): Qualcomm politely declined to comment on the report.
source: Barron's Asia via G For Games
source: Barron's Asia via G For Games