Key Points:
- Samsung struggles with a low yield rate for its Exynos 2500 chip.
- Snapdragon-only Galaxy S25 is a possibility due to production issues.
- GAA architecture switch may be causing problems for Samsung.
Samsung’s plans for the upcoming Galaxy S25 series might face a significant shift due to production woes. Recent reports suggest the company is grappling with low yield rates for its Exynos 2500 chip, potentially leading to a Snapdragon-exclusive lineup for the next flagship.
This wouldn’t be the first time Samsung ditched Exynos for its S-series phones. In 2023, the Galaxy S23 series entirely relied on Qualcomm’s Snapdragon chips globally. The following year, the S24 Ultra received the same treatment, while the standard models used Exynos 2400 in select markets.
Industry insiders anticipated a similar strategy for the S25. However, analyst Ming-Chi Kuo shed light on Samsung’s struggles with the Exynos 2500 yield rate, potentially forcing the company to utilize Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 across all Galaxy S25 models.
This scenario is further corroborated by ZDNet Korea’s report. Their findings reveal the Exynos 2500 yield rate remained in the single digits during the first quarter of 2024. While the company managed to improve it to under 20% in Q2, it’s still a far cry from profitability. In simpler terms, Samsung is currently producing a mere 20 usable chips for every 100 manufactured, resulting in substantial production waste.
To achieve mass production, ZDNet Korea suggests Samsung requires a minimum yield rate of 60%. Time is also a crucial factor – they need to reach this target by the end of Q3 or early Q4 (September-October 2024). Failure to do so will likely translate to a Snapdragon-only Galaxy S25 lineup.
The culprit behind these production issues might be Samsung’s decision to adopt the GAA (Gate-All-Around) transistor architecture for its new 3nm Exynos 2500 chip. Notably, TSMC, the manufacturer of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 4, is sticking to the more established FinFET architecture for their 3nm process. This shift to GAA could be causing unforeseen problems for Samsung’s production line.
Despite facing a tight deadline, Samsung still has roughly 3-4 months to rectify the situation and potentially release an Exynos version of the Galaxy S25. However, regaining user trust remains a challenge. Past performance issues with Exynos chips have significantly eroded consumer confidence, even if early leaks hint at substantial improvements with the Exynos 2500. We’ll likely have a clearer picture of Samsung’s situation and the fate of the Exynos 2500 in the Galaxy S25 within the next few months.
