Samsung has officially unveiled its next-gen flagship Galaxy S24 and Galaxy S24+ smartphones, confirming that both devices will be powered globally by the company’s new Exynos 2400 chipset. This marks a major strategic shift for Samsung, abandoning its previous approach of using both Exynos and Qualcomm Snapdragon chipsets depending on region.
Exynos 2400 Brings Impressive Upgrades
The Exynos 2400 is fabricated on a 4nm process and brings major performance and efficiency improvements over last year’s Exynos 2200. Key highlights of the new chipset include:
- 10-core CPU with 1x Cortex X3 cores, 2x Cortex-A720 cores, 2x Cortex-A710 cores, and 5x Cortex-A510 cores
- Peak CPU clock speed of 3.36GHz
- AMD RDNA3-based GPU promising up to 2x faster graphics
- Support for hardware-accelerated ray tracing
- Integrated 5G and Wi-Fi 7 modems
Early benchmarks show the Exynos 2400 trading blows with Qualcomm’s flagship Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip across CPU and GPU tests. The chipset has demonstrated particular strength in gaming workloads, keeping pace with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3.
Samsung states the shift to use Exynos globally will allow them to better optimize software for a single processor platform. It also aligns with their vertically-integrated business model to use their in-house technology across devices.
Unified Exynos Strategy A Bold Gamble
Previously, Samsung used Snapdragon chips in flagship devices destined for the US, China, and other key markets. This dual-sourcing approach provided flexibility but also introduced complexities in software optimization, updates, and support.
Moving to use Exynos globally is a bold gamble aimed at streamlining operations and reducing costs. However, there are risks if real-world device performance does not live up to expectations. Several tech analysts have expressed concerns about potential throttling issues under heavy loads given Exynos’ history. There are also questions around sustained peak performance for intensive applications like gaming.
| Region | 2023 Chipset | 2024 Chipset |
|---|---|---|
| North America, China | Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 | Exynos 2400 |
| Global (Other markets) | Exynos 2200 | Exynos 2400 |
This unified approach around Exynos puts huge pressure on Samsung to match the efficiency and stability of Qualcomm’s industry-leading chipsets. If they fail to do so, it could significantly impact sales and their reputation with consumers in influential markets like the US.
Enhanced Gaming Capabilities Target Growth Market
One motivation behind Samsung’s Exynos push ties to gaming. Built using AMD’s advanced RDNA 3 graphics architecture, the Exynos 2400 brings hardware-accelerated ray tracing and up to 2x faster frame rates. This promise of elite gaming performance caters to the rapidly growing mobile gaming market.
Early real-world game testing shows the Exynos 2400 powering top titles like Genshin Impact smoothly at 60 fps in max graphics settings where the Exynos 2200 struggled. Support for the latest graphics APIs and Samsung’s partnerships with major game engines aim to make the most of the capable GPU.
With gaming penetration rising even in a stagnating smartphone market, Samsung is making a bet that maximizing gaming experince and creator capabilities will spur upgrades and help them stand out. The unified Exynos strategy also better aligns them to co-optimize gaming performance with partners across geographies.
Exynos 2400 Closes Gap to Snapdragon Performance
The switch to Exynos for their lead devices signals that Samsung believes they have finally narrowed the gap to Qualcomm’s excellence in mobile processors.
Dr. TM Roh, President and Head of Mobile eXperience at Samsung Electronics, commented on the shift in strategy:
“The Exynos 2400 demonstrates the strength of our technology leadership and enables the Galaxy series to set new standards in premium mobile experiences. This chipset shows our commitment to driving next-generation innovation in the mobile space while unifying our platform for better optimization.”
Power efficiency is one area where Exynos chipsets have typically lagged behind. However, Samsung is promising over 30% improved power efficiency with Exynos 2400.
Early Galaxy S24 battery life estimates based on the new 4nm process and enhanced thermal design appear on par with devices running the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3. This will be a key area of scrutiny when final production devices are benchmarked.
Outlook: Software & Sustained Performance Are Key
With just weeks until the Galaxy S24 series launches worldwide, Samsung’s hopes will rely on both hardware and software excellence coming together to provide a smooth experience for demanding users.
If the Exynos 2400 stutters under pressure or fails to sustain peak performance over long gaming sessions, users will be quick to complain. Any bugs or glitches risk denting their brand image built over years.
However, if Samsung manages to back up their claims in real-world usage, the move to unify their flagship processor could pay great dividends by letting them push the limits of optimization. It would also give Exynos more exposure to prove itself as genuine competition to market-leader Qualcomm.
The coming month will be telling as reviewers put the Exynos 2400 hardware and software through its paces. For now, consumers await with cautious optimism to see if Samsung’s ambitious play delivers on its promise.
References
Samsung Confirms Gaming Details of Exynos 2400
https://wccftech.com/exynos-2400-running-genshin-impact-60fps-only-at-lowest-quality/
Exynos 2400 Beats Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 in Some Games
https://www.gizchina.com/2024/01/20/exynos-2400-surprises-in-gaming-beats-snapdragon-8-gen-3-in-some-game-titles/
Samsung Explains Decision to Standardize on Exynos
https://www.androidauthority.com/galaxy-s24-exynos-chip-deal-breaker-poll-3405267/
Exynos 2400 Show Parity with Snapdragon 8 Gen 3
https://www.phonearena.com/news/exynos-2400-snapdragon-8-gen-3-neck-and-neck-gaming_id154536
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