Fabless mobile SoC and modems (Snapdragon)

Qualcomm

The largest mobile-SoC/modem fabless firm; designs ARM-based Snapdragon and outsources to TSMC and Samsung foundries (most leading-edge volume moved to TSMC, with 2nm talks at Samsung). Supplies modems to Apple and others; depends on EDA (Synopsys, Cadence) and Arm IP.

QCOM Updated Jun 21, 2026 1 AI consumers

Money in ▸Apple●Revenue ~$39B스마트폰 OEM (삼성·샤오미 등)●

QualcommFY2024 revenue ~$39B

▸ Money outArm Holdings●TSMC●Cadence Design Systems◐Samsung Electronics◐Synopsys◐RF·패키지 부품 (비공개)○

Financials & Segments

Total revenue · FY2024 revenue ~$39B
Customer concentration · Foundry at TSMC (+Samsung); depends on Arm IP and EDA; customers are smartphone OEMs and Apple.
Segments · QCT (chipsets) · QTL (licensing)

Revenue from

Apple High confidence· Revenue ~$39B · FY2024 · annual revenue
Supplies 5G modem chips to Apple.
Confirms KO Korea Economic Daily Published Jan 7, 2026: "Samsung in talks for 2nm foundry."
Confirms EN TrendForce Published Mar 26, 2025: "Leading-edge Snapdragon volume moved to TSMC."
Confirms EN SEC EDGAR Published Nov 6, 2024: "10-K: QCT chipsets and QTL licensing."
스마트폰 OEM (삼성·샤오미 등) High confidence
Supplies Snapdragon SoCs/modems to smartphone OEMs.
Confirms KO Korea Economic Daily Published Jan 7, 2026: "Galaxy, Xiaomi and others use Snapdragon."

Pays to

Arm Holdings High confidence
Uses/buys CPU-architecture IP from Arm Holdings.
Confirms KO Economy6 Published Jan 15, 2026: "Apple, Qualcomm, Samsung, NVIDIA use ARM IP."
Confirms KO Korea Economic Daily Published Jan 7, 2026: "Samsung in talks for 2nm foundry."
Confirms EN TrendForce Published Mar 26, 2025: "Leading-edge Snapdragon volume moved to TSMC."
Confirms EN SEC EDGAR Published Nov 6, 2024: "10-K: QCT chipsets and QTL licensing."
Confirms EN Arm IR Published Jul 1, 2024: "FY2024 revenue $3.23B."
Confirms EN SEC EDGAR Published May 22, 2024: "20-F: licensing and royalty revenue."
TSMC High confidence
Uses/buys leading-edge foundry from TSMC.
Confirms KO Korea Economic Daily Published Jan 7, 2026: "Samsung in talks for 2nm foundry."
Confirms EN TrendForce Published Mar 26, 2025: "Leading-edge Snapdragon volume moved to TSMC."
Confirms EN SEC EDGAR Published Nov 6, 2024: "10-K: QCT chipsets and QTL licensing."
Cadence Design Systems Medium confidence
Uses/buys EDA design tools from Cadence Design Systems.
Confirms KO Korea Economic Daily Published Jan 7, 2026: "Samsung in talks for 2nm foundry."
Confirms EN TrendForce Published Mar 26, 2025: "Leading-edge Snapdragon volume moved to TSMC."
Confirms EN SEC EDGAR Published Nov 6, 2024: "10-K: QCT chipsets and QTL licensing."
Samsung Electronics Medium confidence
Uses/buys foundry (partial, 2nm talks) from Samsung Electronics.
Confirms KO Korea Economic Daily Published Jan 7, 2026: "Samsung in talks for 2nm foundry."
Confirms EN TrendForce Published Mar 26, 2025: "Leading-edge Snapdragon volume moved to TSMC."
Confirms EN SEC EDGAR Published Nov 6, 2024: "10-K: QCT chipsets and QTL licensing."
Synopsys Medium confidence
Uses/buys EDA design tools from Synopsys.
Confirms KO Korea Economic Daily Published Jan 7, 2026: "Samsung in talks for 2nm foundry."
Confirms EN TrendForce Published Mar 26, 2025: "Leading-edge Snapdragon volume moved to TSMC."
Confirms EN SEC EDGAR Published Nov 6, 2024: "10-K: QCT chipsets and QTL licensing."
RF·패키지 부품 (비공개) Low confidence
RF front-end and package parts (undisclosed).
Mentions EN SEC EDGAR Published Nov 6, 2024: "10-K: component costs."

Value-chain ripple (tiers 2–3)

Following node-to-node links up to 3 tiers; each firm is shown once, at its nearest tier.

Leading firms (revenue chain)

T1 Apple

Beneficiaries (payment chain)

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