Qualcomm Chief Says Intel’s Manufacturing Still Falling Short as Competition Heats Up

Tech, Tech News
September 7, 2025
IMDAD

Qualcomm’s CEO Cristiano Amon didn’t mince words this week: while his company would like Intel to be a viable foundry partner someday, Intel’s current production technology “is not an option today.” The remark, delivered in a recent interview, underlines how demanding makers of mobile chips are about power, density and cost, and it adds fresh pressure on Intel as it tries to rebuild its foundry business and win external customers.

Why this matters

What Amon’s comment really signals is not only a technical assessment but also a commercial reality. Qualcomm depends on partners whose processes deliver the power per watt, yields and area efficiency that modern mobile SoCs require. For now, that means Qualcomm will stay with established suppliers such as TSMC and Samsung for the bulk of its advanced mobile silicon needs, even as Intel markets its roadmap and seeks outside clients.

The foundry business is not simply a race to the smallest transistor pitch; it is about balanced metrics like energy efficiency, manufacturing yield, and cost per die. Qualcomm’s chips power billions of devices where battery life and thermal behavior are critical. A marginal shortfall in wafer yields or power efficiency can translate into big product trade-offs and higher per-unit cost. That explains why a cautious, performance and cost driven buyer like Qualcomm is publicly skeptical until Intel can prove the economics and maturity of its nodes.

Also read: Dimensity 9500 vs Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5: Who Wins the Next Gen Chip War?

Intel’s position and the industry ripple effect

Intel’s foundry comeback has been one of the industry’s biggest storylines. The company has invested heavily in advanced nodes (18A, 14A and others) and has openly courted major customers. But ramping new process nodes at the scale and costs required for mobile customers is notoriously hard. Yield curves, tool chain maturity and logic density all take time to stabilize, and Qualcomm is signaling that stabilization hasn’t happened yet from its perspective. The result is that Intel must either accelerate proof points for performance per watt and yield, or continue focusing on its own products while ironing out process issues.

What this means for the market

Short term: Qualcomm’s stance is a public validation of TSMC’s leadership in mobile foundry services. Customers chasing low power, high density mobile chips will likely stay where those metrics are proven.
Medium term: Intel still has a chance if it can demonstrate competitive yields and cost structures at scale. Amon left the door open, saying Intel “would like to be an option.” That is an invitation, not a verdict.
Strategic signaling: Public comments like this can influence investor sentiment and partner conversations. For Intel, converting skepticism into confidence will require demonstrable benchmarks and customer commitments.

How Intel could change the calculus

Intel is not without levers. Product wins, government incentives, and process refinements can flip perceptions, but the timeline matters. For a company like Qualcomm, switching foundries is not merely technical; it is contractual and logistical. Intel will need clear, repeatable proof that its nodes can deliver the same or better cost and energy metrics that Qualcomm currently gets elsewhere. Until then, Qualcomm’s public pause is a pragmatic business decision rather than pure criticism.

Also read: Apple’s Big Reveal: 5 Gadgets That Might Disappear After September 9

A final thought

This exchange is a reminder that foundry competition is healthy for the industry because it forces higher efficiency, better yields and faster innovation. But it also shows how fragile trust is. Big chip designers measure suppliers against real, hard economics. Words from a CEO like Cristiano Amon are part technical assessment, part negotiation tactic, and the next moves from Intel will determine whether this chapter ends in partnership or polite distance.

FAQ

Exactly what did Qualcomm’s CEO say?

Cristiano Amon said that Intel’s current production technology “is not an option today” for Qualcomm, while emphasizing that Qualcomm would consider Intel if it advances its manufacturing to meet efficiency and yield targets.

Does this mean Qualcomm will never use Intel?

No. The comment is conditional. Qualcomm wants Intel to be an option. If Intel proves its process maturity, yields and power efficiency at scale, Qualcomm could become a customer. For now, Qualcomm continues to rely on TSMC and Samsung for its most advanced mobile chips.

Can Intel realistically close the gap?

Yes, but it is a technical and commercial race. Intel has resources and government support in some markets. Proving consistent yields and cost efficiency will be the decisive next step to win large external customers.