Tipster reiterates Entire Galaxy S25 Series will adopt Snapdragon 8 Elite, and here’s why

Samsung‘s Galaxy S series has long been part of Samsung’s dial-sourcing strategy, featuring both Snapdragon and Exynos chipsets, depending on regional markets.

However, a new tip suggests that the Galaxy S25 series might break this tradition once again after the Galaxy S23 series. Renowned tipster Ice Universe reiterates his previous claim saying that Samsung will power all models of the Galaxy S25 lineup with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset, abandoning the Exynos 2500 for this generation.

This isn’t the first speculation about Samsung’s chip-sourcing strategy for its upcoming flagship. Earlier rumors hinted at Samsung using a mix of Snapdragon and Exynos chipsets or even adopting MediaTek flagship for select models. However, Ice Universe’s claim reinforces the possibility of an all-Snapdragon lineup, marking a significant shift for Samsung’s flagship series.

Snapdragon 8 Elite over Exynos 2500

Samsung Foundry’s 3nm process, which the Exynos 2500 (intended to power the Galaxy S25 and S25+) relies on, currently has a yield rate of around 20%. For context, the semiconductor yield represents the percentage of chips successfully produced relative to the maximum chip count on a wafer; it inversely correlates with the defective rate. To make the fabrication process economically viable, a yield rate of at least 70% is typically required. In comparison, TSMC’s 3nm process, used for the Snapdragon 8 Elite, reportedly achieves a yield rate exceeding 80%.

Such low yields make production costly and unsustainable, possibly influencing Samsung’s decision to go all-in with Snapdragon for the Galaxy S25 series. Significant in context, Samsung is also exploring possibilities to outsource Exynos’s production to TSMC, like most of the fabless manufacturers including Qualcomm and MediaTek.

While nothing is confirmed until the Galaxy S25 lineup officially launches, this rumored strategy could enhance user confidence in Samsung’s flagship devices. The series is expected to debut in January 2025, likely in the early weeks of the month.

(Source)