Samsung’s Strategy for Galaxy S25 Series: Snapdragon 8 and Exynos 2500
Previously, reports suggested that Samsung is likely to maintain a dual-platform strategy for its Galaxy S25 series, offering both the fourth-generation Snapdragon 8 and Exynos 2500 versions. However, it’s still unclear whether the top-tier Galaxy S25 Ultra will exclusively feature the fourth-generation Snapdragon 8. Rumors indicate that Samsung is testing the Exynos 2500, which shows promising performance, easily surpassing both CPU and GPU capabilities of Qualcomm’s third-generation Snapdragon 8.
According to Wccftech reports, the Exynos 2500 will be Samsung’s first smartphone SoC (System on Chip) utilizing the second-generation 3nm process. Similar to the Exynos 2400, it’s likely to employ Fan-Out Wafer-Level Packaging (FoWLP), reducing package size while better managing chip heat, thus enhancing multi-core performance and prolonging device battery life. Thanks to its more advanced process, the Exynos 2500 can operate at higher frequencies at the same power level.
This year, Samsung will introduce its second-generation 3nm process technology, known as SF3 (3GAP), using the “Second-Generation Multi-Bridge-Channel Field Effect Transistor (MBCFET),” which is already in trial production. Samsung has high expectations for the second-generation 3nm process technology, with power, performance, and area (PPA) metrics even comparable to TSMC’s N3P process. Compared to the previous 4nm FinFET process, efficiency and density see a 20% to 30% improvement.
However, Samsung still needs to address yield rate issues. Over the past few years, Samsung’s advanced process technologies have faced less than ideal yield rates. For example, the first-generation 3nm process technology, SF3E (3nm GAA, 3GAE), which began production in June 2022, initially struggled with yield rates hovering between 10% to 20%, only recently doubling after prolonged efforts.
There are reports that Qualcomm faces power consumption and heating issues with the fourth-generation Snapdragon 8, requiring smartphone manufacturers to equip devices with larger battery capacities. If Samsung can resolve production issues with the Exynos 2500, it may offer better efficiency compared to the fourth-generation Snapdragon 8.
[Source: MyDrivers]