Samsung is gearing up to launch its Galaxy S25 flagship series in January next year, with all models expected to exclusively use Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 chip, according to a report from Hankyung, a Korean media outlet, aligning with an earlier report by Kuo.
Galaxy S25 Series to Feature Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 Chipset Globally
The report indicates that the Galaxy S25, Galaxy S25+, and Galaxy S25 Ultra will all feature the Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 For Galaxy processor worldwide, instead of Exynos 2500.
Previously, it was believed that Samsung might use its in-house Exynos 2500 chip for the Galaxy S25 and Galaxy S25+ in certain regions. However, the company has reportedly changed this plan, opting instead for Qualcomm’s Snapdragon across the board.
This move represents a shift from this year’s strategy, where the Galaxy S24 and Galaxy S24+ were released with the Exynos 2400 chip in most regions, while the Galaxy S24 Ultra came exclusively with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 4.
The report states that Samsung’s new approach aims to “use only the highest performance components” to address any performance-related concerns about its flagship devices.
Performance Expectations
The report noted that the Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 is expected to offer over 30% improvements in AI and GPU performance, aligning with Samsung’s strategy to compete with Apple’s iPhone 16, which emphasizes AI capabilities.
It added that while Samsung has historically used Exynos chips in some high-end models to leverage better pricing and supply chain reliability, the shift to Snapdragon aims to meet these performance demands more effectively.
Financial Investments and Market Position
The report highlights Samsung’s increasing financial investment in chip development, with spending on smartphone chipsets rising from KRW 7.6295 trillion (about $5.69 billion) in 2021 to KRW 11.732 trillion (around $8.75 billion) in 2023, now accounting for roughly 20% of production costs.
It also noted that while Qualcomm lost the top spot in shipments to MediaTek, it remains the sales leader with a 36% market share in the first quarter of this year.
Additionally, Samsung plans to enhance its presence in the premium AI processor market, currently dominated by Apple, by promoting the Galaxy S25 with Qualcomm’s AP.
Exynos 2500 in Z Flip 7 and Galaxy Z Fold 7
The report noted that Samsung’s semiconductor division is enhancing the Exynos 2500 chip’s performance and stability, with the Device Solutions (DS) business directing its foundry unit to advance 3nm chip fabrication processes for improved competitiveness.
Following the successful mass production of the Exynos W1000 AP using the 3nm process for the Galaxy Watch 7, it is anticipated that the Exynos 2500 AP will be ready by the first half of next year.
The DS division has also planned to supply the Exynos 2500 for the Galaxy Fold and Flip 7, expected to launch in August next year.