Samsung Galaxy S25 goes all-Qualcomm (Probably)

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.