Samsung Electronics to Announce Galaxy S24 Series
Mobile AP 'Exynos 2400' Expected to Be Unveiled
Industry Interest Grows Ahead of Exynos Return
AI and Graphics Performance Improved Compared to Previous Model
The mobile application processor (AP) series ‘Exynos,’ known as the ‘brain of Samsung Electronics’ smartphones, is making a comeback after two years. Samsung Electronics did not include this chip in the Galaxy S23 following safety concerns about the Exynos 2200 two years ago, but it will be upgraded and installed in the Galaxy S24, announced on the 18th Korean time. It is evaluated to have improved artificial intelligence (AI) and graphics performance compared to the previous generation. Attention is focused on whether Samsung Electronics can restore its pride in APs, which was dented after the Exynos 2200.
Samsung Electronics mobile application processor (AP) brand 'Exynos' image / [Image source=Captured from Samsung Semiconductor Newsroom homepage]
According to related industries on the 17th, Samsung Electronics will unveil the Exynos 2400 along with the Galaxy S24 series at the Galaxy Unpacked event held in San Jose, USA. Following the unveiling of the Exynos 2400 in Silicon Valley, USA, last October, this time detailed information about the Exynos 2400 installed in the Galaxy S24 series will be publicly disclosed.
The Exynos 2400 is a new mobile AP developed by the System LSI Business Division under Samsung Electronics’ DS Division. A mobile AP is a system-on-chip (SoC) that integrates the central processing unit (CPU), graphics processing unit (GPU), DRAM, modem, image signal processor (ISP), and more, playing a key role in realizing smartphone performance. The industry expects that both the Exynos 2400 and Qualcomm’s mobile AP (Snapdragon 8 Gen 3) will be installed concurrently in the Galaxy S24 series.
‘Exynos’ Meets the Galaxy S Series Again After Two Years
Inside Samsung Electronics, tension is at its peak ahead of the Exynos 2400 launch. It is known that caution was urged to prevent any leaks of related information in advance. All standards are aligned with the moment of the Unpacked event. Despite showcasing a private booth for clients and media during CES 2024, the world’s largest electronics and IT exhibition held last week, the DS Division did not separately exhibit the Exynos 2400.
Park Yong-in, President of Samsung Electronics System LSI Division, presenting at the 'Samsung System LSI Tech Day 2023' held in Silicon Valley, USA, last October. Samsung Electronics introduced the Exynos 2400 for the first time at this event. / The Exynos 2400 is a product that Samsung Electronics has painstakingly developed over two years. When Samsung Electronics introduced the Exynos 2200 in 2022, it was embroiled in performance controversies. This was due to overheating issues that surfaced in the Galaxy S22 series equipped with the Exynos 2200. Because of this, only Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 was installed in last year’s Galaxy S23 series, not Exynos. Samsung Electronics had designed the Exynos 2300 at the time but had no choice but to cancel mass production. The pride of Samsung Electronics is at stake with the Exynos 2400.
The success or failure of this chip is also important in terms of smartphone performance and global mobile AP market share. Samsung Electronics had to pay a significant amount in component purchase costs as it relied on external suppliers for mobile APs for its flagship smartphones. According to the company’s quarterly reports, the mobile AP purchase cost from Q1 to Q3 last year was a total of 8.9898 trillion KRW, nearly 96% of the 9.3138 trillion KRW cost for the entire year of 2022. This means that performance has decreased accordingly.
As demand for Exynos declined, Samsung Electronics’ share in the mobile AP market also decreased. According to market research firm Counterpoint Research, Samsung Electronics’ share based on shipment volume was 8% from Q2 to Q4 in 2022. However, from Q1 to Q3 last year, it recorded a market share of around 5%.
"Exynos 2400 Has Superior GPU Performance Compared to Competitors"
Samsung Electronics focused on resolving the overheating issues that caused controversy. It is analyzed that the Exynos 2400 applied advanced semiconductor packaging technology called ‘Fan-Out Wafer Level Package (FOWLP),’ reducing chip thickness while increasing heat dissipation to mitigate overheating. Famous IT tipster Revegnus stated on his social media account last month regarding the Exynos 2400, "I understand this is Samsung’s first application of FOWLP."
The Exynos 2400 is also evaluated as optimal for supporting various AI services in the Galaxy S24 series. This product is manufactured using a 4-nanometer (nm; 1 nm is one-billionth of a meter) process, with CPU performance 1.7 times and AI performance 14.7 times higher than its predecessor. Samsung Electronics showcased generative AI technology that converts text into images on a reference device equipped with the Exynos 2400 last October.
The GPU included in the Exynos 2400 is the ‘Xclipse 940,’ based on the latest AMD architecture (RDNA3) from the United States. The industry claims that this GPU may outperform Apple and Qualcomm products. Park Yong-in, President of Samsung Electronics’ System LSI Business Division, expressed confidence last year in an interview with reporters, saying, "The Exynos 2400 has superior GPU performance compared to competitors." It also incorporates several advanced graphics technologies to support high-performance gaming.
An industry insider said, "I understand there is high expectation within Samsung Electronics regarding the reinstallation of Exynos in the Galaxy S series this time," adding, "There are concerns related to Exynos, but since it is returning after two years, it is expected to be well prepared."
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