Samsung Galaxy S25 May Opt for MediaTek SoC Due to Rising Qualcomm Costs

Samsung Considers MediaTek for Upcoming Galaxy S25 Smartphones

Recent reports suggest that Samsung might release at least one version of its forthcoming Galaxy S25 smartphone with a MediaTek SoC. This decision stems from multiple reasons. Primarily, the Exynos 2500 SoCs are deemed commercially non-viable due to poor mass production efficiency. Additionally, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 SoCs are even more expensive than their predecessors, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, which already had a significant impact on mobile device pricing. Consequently, Samsung is exploring a backup plan involving MediaTek.

MediaTek SoC Under Evaluation for Galaxy S25 Series

Specifically, Samsung currently has several Galaxy S25 series devices equipped with a MediaTek SoC undergoing internal evaluations. Based on these assessments, Samsung will decide whether to proceed with a commercial launch. Notably, the upcoming Galaxy Tab S10 Plus will feature a MediaTek Dimensity 9300+, indicating that this adoption might extend to other devices.

Samsung’s Dual Chip Strategy

Reports reveal that the Galaxy S24 lineup will be available with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 and Dimensity 9400 SoCs. This isn’t entirely unexpected. Samsung has historically offered devices with dual chip options depending on the market, although they’ve recently relied solely on Qualcomm due to the inadequacy of their Exynos SoCs. However, the high costs associated with implementing the Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 have prompted Samsung to revisit their dual chip strategy, with the second chip now being supplied by MediaTek rather than Samsung itself.

This strategic shift is driven by Qualcomm’s continuous price hikes, making it increasingly challenging for Samsung to maintain its profit margins. Although these price increases ultimately affect consumers, there are limits to how much they can pass on. Samsung aims to avoid pricing the Galaxy S25 higher than Apple’s devices, not because of feature comparisons but due to the rapid depreciation of Samsung’s brand value compared to Apple’s.

What to Expect from the MediaTek Dimensity 9400

If the Galaxy S25 series adopts the MediaTek Dimensity 9400, it could potentially offer surprising performance. The Dimensity 9400 will utilize the BlackHawk core architecture, expected to outperform Qualcomm’s high-performance Oryon architecture in Snapdragon X chips for Windows 11 PCs. It is also anticipated to surpass the performance of the cores found in the Apple A17 Pro used in the iPhone 16 Pro, implying it could be faster than the Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 SoC.

Moreover, MediaTek SoCs are generally more cost-effective than Qualcomm’s, allowing Samsung to maintain its profit margins for the Galaxy S24. Qualcomm is notorious for its temperature issues, and if MediaTek can deliver a SoC that competes on all fronts while being more affordable, it wouldn’t be surprising if Samsung prioritizes MediaTek SoCs over Qualcomm’s for future Galaxy S26 models.

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