Samsung is set to equip its upcoming Galaxy Z Flip6 and Z Fold6 with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip, according to a report from The Elec. Earlier, there were talks of a split chipset approach, but the latest report contradicts this.
The decision to stick with Qualcomm’s chip for both foldables comes down to factors like cost and Samsung’s existing relationship with the chipmaker. It’s not about any concerns regarding the performance of Samsung’s own Exynos 2400 SoC, as stated in the report.
While Qualcomm has long been favored by many, Samsung’s Exynos 2400 chip has been catching up, delivering comparable performance to Snapdragon. However, for Samsung, the decision boils down to economics rather than performance.
The Elec’s sources suggest that for Samsung’s dual-chip strategy to pay off, they need to sell a significant number of devices. However, current market trends indicate that sticking with a single chipset, specifically Snapdragon, is more financially sound for Samsung.
The report also highlights the cost implications of using different chips in the same phone. With the Galaxy Z series still lagging behind the Galaxy S flagships in terms of shipments, using two chipsets would only drive costs up further, making the already pricey foldables even more expensive.
Given these factors, Samsung will likely stick to using different chipsets only when foldable shipments match those of its early-year flagships. This also means that the ‘For Galaxy’ branding, indicating Qualcomm’s partnership with Samsung, will be present on these devices.
Both devices are slated for launch at Samsung’s next Unpacked event, which is tipped to happen on July 10, 2024.