Samsung will exclusively use Qualcomm’s latest flagship chipset in its upcoming foldable smartphones, Korean media reports. The Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Galaxy Z Flip 6 will feature the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 globally, the same chipset that powers the Galaxy S24 Ultra. While the Galaxy S24 and Galaxy S24+ use the Exynos 2400 in some markets, the new foldables won’t have an Exynos version.
Galaxy Z Fold 6 & Flip 6 will exclusively use a Snapdragon chip
Samsung has been making foldable smartphones since 2019 and every single model is powered by a Qualcomm chip. Despite the company making flagship Exynos processors and using them in its Galaxy S series devices, it has kept a Snapdragon exclusivity for its foldables. However, a rumor emerged in March that things could change this year. If not both, at least the Flip model was said to feature the Exynos 2400.
Thankfully, that isn’t happening. A Snapdragon exclusivity for Samsung foldables will continue for at least one more year. According to The Elec, the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Galaxy Z Flip 6 will feature the “For Galaxy” version of Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 3. It has a slightly faster CPU than the standard version available to other brands. Samsung signed this unique partnership with Qualcomm last year.
The new report further reveals that the new foldables using a Snapdragon chip globally have nothing to do with the Exynos 2400’s performance or efficiency. In Fact, Samsung’s semiconductor division has significantly improved the overall quality of its Exynos chip in recent years. The Exynos 2400 is substantially closer to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 in every aspect than its predecessor was to its Snapdragon counterpart.
There may be a slight gap, but that wasn’t why Samsung kept a Snapdragon exclusivity. It has always designed its foldables with the Snapdragon in mind. Switching to an Exynos processor will reportedly increase the production cost, something the company can’t afford to do. Foldable smartphones are already costly. The Korean firm would want to keep the production cost in check to maximize its profit from these devices.
Exynos might eventually come to Samsung foldables someday
Samsung’s foldables may exclusively use a Snapdragon chip but the door for Exynos isn’t shut forever. The company may bring its in-house chips to its foldable someday. However, that will happen only when these Z series phones start selling in a similar quantity as the S series. That is when a dual-chip strategy for foldables will be profitable for the Korean tech biggie. The Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Galaxy Z Flip 6 launch in early July.
2024-05-22 15:05:01