Key Points:
- Samsung Galaxy S25 series might ditch Exynos chipsets entirely, favoring Qualcomm’s Snapdragon exclusively.
- Lower-than-expected yield for Samsung’s 3nm chip manufacturing process is the suspected culprit.
- This shift could lead to a price increase for the Galaxy S25 due to Qualcomm potentially raising Snapdragon costs.
The winds of change are blowing through Samsung’s mobile chipset strategy. Renowned analyst Ming-Chi Kuo suggests the Galaxy S25 series could witness a return to Snapdragon exclusivity, mirroring the approach taken with the S23 lineup. This news comes as a surprise considering the recent reintroduction of Exynos processors in the Galaxy S24 series.
Kuo’s report hinges on a potential roadblock for Samsung’s in-house Exynos 2500 chipset. A lower-than-anticipated yield rate for the company’s 3nm manufacturing process might force them to shelve the Exynos altogether. This year, the Galaxy S24 distribution leaned heavily towards Exynos (around 60%), with only the S24 Ultra wielding the Snapdragon muscle internationally.
The potential shift to all-Snapdragon for the S25 has a ripple effect on pricing. Kuo anticipates that Qualcomm might hike the price of its Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 by a significant margin (25-30%) due to the adoption of a new Oryon CPU architecture. Additionally, TSMC, the manufacturer of these Snapdragon chips, might also raise its fees due to the complexities of the new 3nm process and on-device AI optimizations.
While the Exynos 2400 in the S24 garnered praise for improved performance and efficiency, lingering consumer skepticism towards Exynos might have influenced Samsung’s decision. This potential all-Snapdragon approach for the S25 series could translate to a price bump for consumers, but it also ensures global consistency in terms of performance and potentially, better reception.
Qualcomm will likely be the sole SoC supplier for the Samsung Galaxy S25 (vs. 40% for the S24), as the Exynos 2500 may not ship due to Samsung’s lower-than-expected 3nm yield.
In addition to the significant increase in supply share, Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 will see a price…
— 郭明錤 (Ming-Chi Kuo) (@mingchikuo) June 17, 2024
