Samsung is widening the application capabilities of its 14 nanometer technology chip so that it can be used for midrange devices, especially budget smartphones.
On Feb. 17, Samsung unveiled a new addition to its Exynos 7 octa-processor lineup - the Exynos 7 Octa 7870. This chipset deploys the advanced 14nm FinFET process technology and is designed in such a manner that it can be deployed in next-gen mobile devices with ease.
"With increased performance and power efficiency, we anticipate widespread adoption of our new Exynos 7 Octa 7870 into mid-tier mobile devices. Consumers will experience enhanced performance as this is the first time a mobile application processor built on advanced 14nm process is available for these types of smart mobile devices," says Ben K. Hur, vice president of System LSI marketing, Samsung Electronics.
The company anticipates to commence the production of the Exynos 7870 SoC in Q1 2016 for midrange handsets that deploy Samsung's 14nm FinFET technology.
In the past, the technology has only been used for high-end products. In 2015, Samsung used the 14nm process for the Exynos 7420 SoC, which fueled the Galaxy S6 and Galaxy Note 5 series.
This marks the first time the 14nm FinFET process is being deployed for a SoC that will power midrange handsets. The move is a strategic effort on Samsung's part to fortify its SoC business.
The latest Exynos SoC from Samsung integrates all the parts of a computer in a single cohesive circuit. The 14nm FinFET process technology deploys a 3D process, which aids in more effective power usage when compared to traditional methods.
Aside from being 30 percent more power efficient compared to existing models that operate using the 28nm technology, Exynos 7870 has eight 1.6 GHz Cortex-A53 cores. It also has an LTE Cat.6 2CA modem that offers support for 300 Mbps downlink speed.
In the context of multimedia functionality, the processor offers support for 1080p 60 fps video playback, as well as 1,920 x 1,200 (WUXGA) display resolution.
The processor's ISP or image signal processor is quite robust and gives high-resolution images for both the primary and secondary cameras - up to 16 megapixels. The chipset likewise integrates GNSS solution to offer faster TTFF or time-to-first-fix.
Samsung is optimistic that the Exynos 7 Octa 7870 SoC will see adoption from more budget-oriented mobile devices.
