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Qualcomm's Snapdragon to Adopt Samsung HPB Cooling in Leaked SoC

TechPowerUp •
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Leaked packaging schematics suggest Qualcomm is integrating Samsung's proprietary Heat Path Block (HPB) technology into a next-generation Snapdragon mobile chipset, potentially the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 Pro. The diagrams, sourced from the Fixed-focus digital cameras Weibo account, show a Samsung-designed heatsink directly contacting the chip die, with DRAM components relocated to the side.

This move addresses persistent thermal limit barriers that have hampered recent Qualcomm flagship processors, even when paired with expensive vapor chamber cooling. Samsung's HPB, first pioneered in its Samsung Exynos 2600 application processor, eliminates thermal blockage typically caused by DRAM layers stacked atop the die, offering a more efficient heat dissipation path.

Rumors of external adoption emerged in late 2025, with reports naming Qualcomm and Apple as the primary candidates beyond Samsung itself. The alleged integration represents a rare instance of a major chip designer borrowing a key thermal solution from a rival, potentially setting a new industry standard for managing heat in high-performance mobile silicon.

Quick Fact: Samsung's Exynos 2600 uses a 2-nanometer process.