The ongoing speculation regarding the chipset for Samsung's Galaxy S25 series has finally been put to rest.
According to recent reports from Korean media, all three models in the Galaxy S25 lineup will exclusively use the Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 processor, setting aside any potential plans for the Exynos 2500.
Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 Chosen Over Exynos 2500
Renowned analyst Ming-Chi Kuo previously suggested that Samsung might boost the production yield of its 3nm Exynos 2500 chip to meet demand. However, supply chain insiders now reveal that Samsung won't achieve the necessary quantity and quality of Exynos 2500 processors in time for the Galaxy S25 release.
Instead, the Exynos 2500 chip is expected to be ready by the first half of 2025, missing the Galaxy S25 launch window, which is slated for early next year.
Exynos 2500 to Power Future Foldable Devices
Due to the delay in Exynos 2500 production, Samsung plans to use this chip to reduce costs for its foldable phones, expected to debut in the second half of 2025. This decision shifts the Exynos 2500's role away from the flagship Galaxy S25 series to Samsung's innovative foldable devices, such as the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Z Flip 7, as per Phone Arena.
Samsung's MX Division Backs Snapdragon for Galaxy S25 Ultra
Sources from the Korean business publication Hankyung report that Samsung's MX division was thoroughly impressed with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 4, specifically designed for the Galaxy S25 Ultra.
The team concluded that this chipset offers performance and power efficiency comparable to Apple's upcoming A18 Pro processor, making it a strong competitor against the iPhone 16 series.
Consequently, Samsung opted to equip the Galaxy S25 with Snapdragon processors exclusively, rather than relying on the Exynos 2500, which hasn't yet reached the desired performance benchmarks.
Samsung Forced to Prioritize Snapdragon Due to Rising Costs
Samsung's decision to prioritize the Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 comes in response to the rising costs associated with application processors. The cost of Samsung's processor supply has surged from approximately $5.7 billion in 2021, during the launch of the Galaxy S21 series, to $8.7 billion last year.
With 20% of its phone manufacturing costs now attributed to processors, Samsung initially considered a strategy to mix Exynos and Snapdragon chips in the Galaxy S25 to manage expenses.
How Apple Influences Samsung
However, the introduction of Apple Intelligence on the iPhone 16 series altered Samsung's strategy. The company now aims to offer a competitive AI product, something it believes can only be achieved with Qualcomm's Snapdragon chips at this time.
Exynos 2500's Future in Samsung Devices
While the Exynos 2500 won't be featured in the Galaxy S25, Samsung's foundry division has been tasked with consolidating its cutting-edge foundry process below 3nm to ensure the chip's future competitiveness. The goal is to power the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Z Flip 7 with the Exynos 2500, marking a game-changing milestone for Samsung's in-house processor development.
With regards to the Galaxy S25 lineup, here are all the rumors you need to know so far, according to Tom's Guide.
