Samsung Electronics has confirmed it will equip its upcoming flip smartphones, the Galaxy Z Flip FE and Galaxy Z Flip 7, with its Exynos 2500 series chips. Having faced difficulties due to yield issues with the 3-nanometer second-generation Gate-All-Around (GAA) process, Samsung Electronics recently succeeded in stabilizing 3-nanometer manufacturing yields, aiming to revive its mobile application processor (AP) business, which has been bogged down for years.
According to the industry on the 11th, Samsung Electronics has decided to apply its mobile AP Exynos 2500, which acts as the brain of smartphones, to the new Galaxy Z Flip products. Unlike this year, when the flagship foldable phone, Galaxy Z Flip 6, was equipped with Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, future flip models will come with the Exynos series designed by the Samsung Electronics System LSI division.
The Samsung Electronics System LSI division has been developing the Exynos 2500 with the goal of equipping it to the Galaxy S25 series. However, it had been hampered by the poor yields of the 3-nanometer (nm) foundry operations. Not only were the yields low, but the performance also significantly lagged behind Qualcomm's Snapdragon series, putting the entire mobile AP business in jeopardy.
The Samsung Electronics Mobile Experience (MX) division is reportedly planning to equip all units of the flagship Galaxy S25 series, set for release next year, with Qualcomm's Snapdragon series. The Snapdragon series to be applied to the Galaxy S25 series will be produced entirely through TSMC's 3-nanometer process.
A senior official from Samsung Electronics noted, “It is true that we have faced difficulties in mass production as we applied the Gate-All-Around (GAA) process for the first time in the foundry 3-nanometer second-generation process,” adding, “However, the process has now stabilized, and starting mass production is just a matter of time.” He continued, “While it seems difficult to equip the Galaxy S25 series due to a lack of secured supply, it should be feasible to equip the premium models in the Z Flip series.”
Meanwhile, Samsung Electronics plans to maximize synergy between its System LSI and foundry divisions for the successful commercialization of the Exynos 2500. A senior official from Samsung Electronics acknowledged, “It is true that the Exynos 2500 has faced obstacles in commercialization and that the foundry and System LSI divisions have been engaging in a blame game,” adding that “now we have agreed to maximize collaboration between the divisions to ensure process stabilization.”