Qualcomm customers face a shortage of chips for smartphones

Samsung Electronics is the largest smartphone supplier, so if this company is faced with a shortage of components, then competitors are in a worse position. According to sources, Samsung currently lacks Qualcomm processors for smartphones and related components.

Qualcomm faced increased demand for its processors last year when the enforced sanctions against Huawei Technologies initiated a market division. At Wednesday’s investor event, the head of Qualcomm admitted that demand for the company’s products exceeds its supply capacity. As noted by Reuters, citing its own sources, Samsung and other smartphone manufacturers faced a shortage of Qualcomm processors. It is not limited to entry-level and mid-range models; manufacturers also lack the flagship Snapdragon 888 model and related components.

Considering that Qualcomm mobile processors are produced using fairly advanced lithographic technologies, it can be argued that the shortage of components is not limited to the automotive sector, which is content with mature technical processes. The same Snapdragon 888 should be produced by 5nm technology by Samsung Electronics, which ultimately suffers from its shortage in the direction of smartphones’ production.

Contract manufacturers of electronic devices are complaining about skyrocketing prices. Some microcontrollers have risen in price several times in a matter of weeks, and the waiting times for deliveries have increased from several weeks to one year. Without the same power electronics, a smartphone cannot be released, even if the necessary mobile processors are available. Some electronic device manufacturers are already forced to delay new models’ announcements due to the existing shortage of components.