Samsung has reaffirmed its commitment to using Qualcomm’s Snapdragon chipsets in its flagship Galaxy S and Galaxy Z devices, despite having its own powerful Exynos processors. The two companies announced that they have signed a multiyear agreement that covers the Snapdragon platforms for the Galaxy smartphones launched from 2024 onwards.
The deal was revealed during Qualcomm’s earnings call for 2024, where the company reported strong growth in its revenue and profit, driven by the demand for its 5G-enabled chips. Qualcomm said that the agreement with Samsung reflects the value of its Snapdragon 8 series, which offers cutting-edge performance, efficiency, and connectivity features. It also showcases the long-standing and successful strategic partnership between the two tech giants.
The first Samsung phones to benefit from the new agreement were the Galaxy S24 models, which were released earlier this year. The Galaxy S24 Ultra and the Galaxy S24 models sold in the U.S. and China were powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, while the Galaxy S24 models sold in other regions used the Exynos 2400. Both processors are based on the 4nm process technology and feature 10 CPU cores, including four Arm Cortex-X2 cores for high performance.
The Snapdragon 8 Gen 4, which is expected to be unveiled in October, will be the first Snapdragon chip to use Qualcomm’s own custom CPU cores, codenamed Phoenix. The chip will also be the first to be manufactured using TSMC’s advanced 3nm process node, which promises to deliver higher performance and lower power consumption. The chip will have eight Phoenix cores, with two of them running at higher frequencies for intensive tasks, and six of them running at lower frequencies for moderate tasks. The chip will not have any dedicated efficiency cores, as Qualcomm claims that its Phoenix cores can scale down to low power levels when needed.
The Snapdragon 8 Gen 5, which is likely to be launched in 2025, could be the first Snapdragon chip to be produced by both TSMC and Samsung Foundry, according to some industry sources. Qualcomm had initially chosen Samsung Foundry to produce its Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, which debuted in 2023, but switched to TSMC for the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 and the subsequent generations, due to the low yield rates and quality issues reported by Samsung Foundry. However, Samsung Foundry has been investing heavily in improving its production capacity and technology, and may regain some of Qualcomm’s orders in the future.
The terms and conditions of the new agreement between Samsung and Qualcomm were not disclosed by either party, but it is expected that Samsung will pay Qualcomm a royalty fee for each Snapdragon chip it uses in its Galaxy smartphones. The agreement also ensures that Samsung will have access to Qualcomm’s latest and most advanced Snapdragon platforms, which will help it compete with other smartphone makers, such as Apple, Huawei, and Xiaomi, in the premium segment of the market.