Rumors have been circulating about a potential price increase for the Galaxy S25 when Samsung unveils its successor to the Galaxy S24 early next year. This could be the result of the change in the current chipset.
Popular tech leaker Ming-Chi Kuo says that Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 processors will be the official chipset for the upcoming Galaxy S25 series. As a result, production costs may significantly increase.
Expensive Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 Chipset
As Mashable reports, analyst Ming-Chi Kuo predicts that the Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 chipset, expected to power next year's flagship, will be notably more expensive.
In a post on Medium, Kuo revealed that the new system-on-chip could be priced 25% to 30% higher than the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset, which powers the current Galaxy S24 Ultra models as well as the Galaxy S24 and S24 Plus in North America.
What Does it Mean For Future Galaxy S25 Buyers?
If these predictions hold true, Samsung will face a decision: either absorb the additional cost or pass it on to consumers, Tom's Guide reports. This could result in higher prices for the Galaxy S25 models.
For context, the Galaxy S24 models start at $799, with the Galaxy S24 Ultra starting at $1,299 following a $100 increase in January.
Higher Production Costs Confirmed
This isn't the first indication of rising costs for the Galaxy S25. Back in May, a leak on Weibo hinted at the high cost of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 4. Kuo's recent report sheds more light on why this chip will be so pricey.
Enhanced 3nm Chip Process
The Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 is expected to be built on an advanced 3nm chip process. This should offer improved performance, particularly in handling the increasing demands of AI features that smartphone manufacturers are incorporating into their devices. However, this advanced process comes at a higher cost.
Potential Use of Exynos Chips
Samsung might continue its strategy of using its own Exynos chips in some Galaxy S models.
For instance, the Galaxy S24 and Galaxy S24 Plus versions shipped outside North America used the Exynos 2400. The upcoming Exynos 2500, also anticipated to be a 3nm chip, should offer similar performance gains.
The question remains whether these gains will match the rumored performance of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 4, which is expected to outperform the A18 chip slated for Apple's iPhone 16.
The rumored price hike for the Galaxy S25 models is part of a broader trend in the tech industry. Last week, rumors suggested that Samsung plans to increase the starting prices of the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Galaxy Z Flip 6 by $100. These foldable phones are expected to be introduced at a Galaxy Unpacked event later this summer, while the Galaxy S25 lineup is anticipated to debut early next year.
If you're interested to know the rumored Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra specs, check Phone Arena's report here.
In other news, Tech Times reported that Meta Quest Pro 2 has been under development since November. It's internally known as the "La Jolla" project.
