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Samsung Galaxy S25 to abandon Exynos in favor of Snapdragon in all markets

By Mariyan Slavov

Updated: Dec 19, 2024, 5:53 AM

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Samsung Galaxy S25 to abandon Exynos in favor of Snapdragon in all markets

The Galaxy S25 rumors have been piling up in the past couple of weeks, just ahead of the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Z Flip 6 premiere next month. We've already had a bunch of very interesting leaks regarding the Galaxy S25, such as an IMEI listing, a potential camera sensor upgrade for the Galaxy S25 Ultra, and rumored pricing information, but today's info is much more important as it concerns one sensitive subject. The chipset.

According to well-known insider Ming-Chi Kuo, "Qualcomm will likely be the sole SoC supplier for the Samsung Galaxy S25 (vs. 40% for the S24)."

The info was first scooped by Android Central, but the post on X (formerly Twitter) sheds light on the actual reasons why Samsung might skip Exynoss altogether on the Galaxy S25 series, and it's not what you might think.

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In the past couple of years, Samsung has been criticized for using Exynos chips, especially in flagship models, as its performance sometimes fell short of the same models equipped with Snapdragon silicon. At one point, there was even a petition by angry users to ban Exynos chips from flagship Samsung smartphones.

The case seems to be different here, as Kuo points out that the decision to use Qualcomm as an exclusive supplier lies in "Samsung's lower-than-expected 3nm yield." The Galaxy S25 series was supposed to use the Exynos 2500 as an alternative to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 in some markets, such as Europe, the UK, and India.

Also read: Galaxy S25 Ultra release date

Pricier Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 might lead to pricier Galaxy S25 devices

Ming-Chi Kuo then goes on to analyze the effects of such a situation, stating that it will be a boost to Qualcomm and TSMC, with the latter being the exclusive manufacturer of Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 silicon. According to the latest info from DigitalChatStation, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 will be significantly more expensive than its predecessor, leading to even higher financial gains for TSMC and Qualcomm.

Whether or not this will then lead to a price bump for the MSRP of the Galaxy S25 series, it's not clear. Of course, we should all take this rumor with a grain of salt, as it's just that—a rumor. But given the very solid track record of Ming-Chi Kuo, there's a good chance the Galaxy S25 series to feature Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 silicon exclusively. What do you think about it? Would you miss Exynos on the Galaxy S25? Let us know in the comments below.

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Mariyan, a tech enthusiast with a background in Nuclear Physics and Journalism, brings a unique perspective to PhoneArena. His childhood curiosity for gadgets evolved into a professional passion for technology, leading him to the role of Editor-in-Chief at PCWorld Bulgaria before joining PhoneArena. Mariyan's interests range from mainstream Android and iPhone debates to fringe technologies like graphene batteries and nanotechnology. Off-duty, he enjoys playing his electric guitar, practicing Japanese, and revisiting his love for video games and Haruki Murakami's works.