[News] Samsung May End UMC’s Galaxy DDI Exclusivity by Adding GlobalFoundries as Mature-Node Capacity Tightens

What happened

According to ZDNet citing industry sources, Samsung is considering adding GlobalFoundries as a second foundry partner for display driver ICs (DDIs) used in its OLED Galaxy smartphones, potentially ending UMC's exclusive role in manufacturing the chips; GlobalFoundries-produced DDIs could appear in Galaxy smartphones as early as late 2027, with some lower- and mid-range Galaxy A series models possibly the first to adopt the chips. Samsung is reportedly evaluating GlobalFoundries' 22nm or 28nm nodes, which have compatible manufacturing facilities in Singapore and Germany. The stated cause: mature-node demand has outpaced supply since the second half of 2025, and per ZDNet, Samsung requested expedited DDI production for its Galaxy Z Fold8 after demand exceeded expectations following its July unveiling, but UMC was unable to fulfill the request because its 22nm DDI production capacity had already reached its limit; as a result, Samsung cut its planned Galaxy Z Fold8 component production volume for September by 10%, shifting the deferred volume to October. Per Economic Daily News, institutional investors expect UMC's 12-inch capacity utilization to reach 93% by the end of 2026, supported by rising 22/28nm DDI orders from Samsung System LSI and Novatek and demand for Apple Mac-related chips on 55/65nm nodes; per TrendForce, some capacity-constrained 12-inch mature nodes showed signs of 5–10% price increases between Q2 and Q3 2026, with broader price hikes expected in 2027. These items remain reports/evaluations or expectations, not confirmed actions.

Impact and signal

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Source and time

Source: TrendForce · 10/15/2026 · View original source