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Samsung and Qualcomm at WAR? New Exynos 7420 Aims To Take Down Snapdragon 810

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Samsung and Qualcomm at WAR? New Exynos 7420 Aims To Take Down Snapdragon 810

Samsung may have its sights set firmly on Qualcomm’s territory, as new reports indicate it’s making a bold bid for the processor space


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We’ve been hearing a lot of reports recently about Samsung dropping Qualcomm’s processors for its next flagship, the Galaxy S6, but according to new reports out of Korea there may be more to this scenario than meets the eye. It’s alleged, in fact, that not only is Samsung distancing itself from Qualcomm, it may be engaging in direct competition with the chip maker.

Previously the Galaxy S6 handset was thought to be touting the latest Snapdragon 810 octa-core chip, at least in regions where it would not sport Samsung’s own Exynos silicon. This has been Samsung’s modus operandi for some time and has seen North America, Europe, and many other regions using Galaxy S flagship devices with Qualcomm innards, while the Asian market generally gets Samsung made Exynos kit. That’s remained true for flagships, although in recent months more of Samsung’s catalogue has introduced Exynos hardware to markets outside Asia – just not the big guns.

Now however, there’s a lot of talk about Samsung not using Qualcomm chips inside the Galaxy S6.

The rumour mill has been abuzz with ideas and suggestions for Samsung’s change of heart towards Qualcomm. On the one end of the scale you have the fairly ambiguous claim that Samsung encountered some problems during internal testing – this line of thought seems to be associated with another rumour – that Samsung will initially ship mostly Exynos edition devices at first (presumably to all regions), but if it can resolve issues with the Snapdragon chip will gradually ramp up production of Qualcomm-based handsets (and that likely means non-Asian markets getting Qualcomm models from that point onwards). That means that in this scenario, Samsung is not abandoning Qualcomm per se, it’s merely putting its use of the Snapdragon 810 on the back burner for a bit.

Such rumours have taken a slightly more sensational turn when it was alleged the Snapdragon 810 has problems with overheating issues. Qualcomm has strenuously denied these claims, but rumours have since escalated suggesting that Samsung could drop Qualcomm’s chip altogether.

Now the latest report from Korean ETNews claims that Samsung is actively positioning itself as a direct competitor to Qualcomm with its own Exynos chip. Allegedly, Samsung is going to “war”.

“SEC is planning to drastically increase the use of its ‘Exynos 7420’ in its strategic model Galaxy S6 this year. Qualcomm’s ‘Snap Dragon 810’ was applied to the G Flex 2, recently released by LG Electronics, and Xiaomi’s Mi Note Pro. The two APs will also compete fiercely to find their way into other manufacturers’ premium smartphones scheduled to be unveiled in February or March.”

The line goes that Samsung’s Exynos 7 tech, including the Exynos 7420 believed to be replacing the Snapdragon 810 inside the Galaxy S6, uses a 14 nanometre (nm) architecture as opposed to Qualcomm’s 20nm hardware. Samsung is betting on its chips performing better, and indeed, leaks and reports would appear to suggest, at least ostensibly, that this is indeed the case. We’ve now seen benchmarks of the Exynos chip inside what would seem to be the Galaxy S6, compared to leaked benchmarks of the HTC One M9 (Snapdragon 810 based) and both LG’s G Flex 2 and the Xiomi Mi Note, which have launched recently, carry the 810 SoC. The Exynos hardware performed better in leaked Geekbench tests than the Qualcomm chip on HTC’s One M9. Exynos details would also appear to come out more favourably compared to information on the two aforementoned released devices from LG and Xiomi, as ETNews reports:

“Looking at the disclosed specifications, e.g. the CPU speed, process and power consumption, Samsung’s Exynos 7420 has the upper hand. The operating speed of Exynos is 2.1GHz, faster than that of Qualcomm’s Snap Dragon 810 (1.6GHx). As the 14nm technology is applied, it consumes less power than the Qualcomm chip based on the 20nm technology.”

An unnamed industry insider reportedly said that the benchmarks and specs alone would not necessarily indicate real-life performance, but added that the “superiority in specifications will definitely give a marketing opportunity to Samsung Electronics’ AP”

The only real kicker for Samsung is that unlike Qualcomm’s Snapdragon it has thus far failed to bring a chip to market with built-in LTE modems; Qualcomm’s integrated modems also cover a wide range of mobile data bands.

We can pose a number of theories as to why Samsung is making this strategic move. Firstly, Samsung may now consider that it is in a position to take a hefty chunk of the mobile processor industry – to date it has largely been a two-horse race between Nvidia and Qualcomm, with occasional outrunners from Intel, MediaTek and others but in recent months Qualcomm has utterly dominated the sector to the point of stagnation. MediaTek also now appears to be on the rise, and Samsung has the widely published prestige of being the manufacturer of Apple’s A-series chips for iPhones and iPads – if there was ever a time to make a move now would probably be it.

Another factor could be differentiation, which to an extent goes hand-in-hand with the first point – Qualcomm is now so dominant in the space that consumers seem to be fatigued by the sheer ubiquity of Snapdragon silicon and the sameness it creates from device to device. Many devices, including Samsung’s own Galaxy S5 flagship, have come under fire for not innovating enough over successive generations. Crucially then, if Samsung can show consumers that its own chips give it an edge over rival flagships from LG, Sony, HTC and the rest (all using Qualcomm), then it may have a key advantage.


Paul Briden

17:31, 27 Jan 2015

Samsung will have its attractions set firmly on Qualcomm's territory, as new stories point out it's creating a daring bid for the processor area

News

We’ve been listening to a large number of studies just lately approximately Samsung losing Qualcomm’s processors for its subsequent flagship, the Galaxy S6, however in keeping with new stories out of Korea there could also be extra to this situation than meets the attention. It’s alleged, if truth be told, that now not handiest is Samsung distancing itself from Qualcomm, it can be enticing in direct festival with the chip maker.

Previously the Galaxy S6 handset used to be considered touting the recent Snapdragon 810 octa-center chip, at least in areas the place it might now not game Samsung’s personal Exynos silicon. This has been Samsung’s modus operandi for a while and has noticed North America, Europe, and many different areas the use of Galaxy I flagship units with Qualcomm innards, whilst the Asian marketplace typically will get Samsung made Exynos package. That’s remained actual for flagships, even if in contemporary months extra of Samsung’s catalogue has presented Exynos hardware to markets out of doors Asia - simply now not the large weapons.

Now on the other hand, there’s a large number of speak about Samsung now not the use of Qualcomm chips within the Galaxy S6.

The hearsay mill has been abuzz with concepts and tips for Samsung’s amendment of center against Qualcomm. On the only finish of the size you have got the quite ambiguous declare that Samsung encountered a few issues throughout inner checking out - this line of idea appears to be related to any other hearsay - that Samsung will to begin with send most commonly Exynos model units at first (most likely to all areas), but when it will probably get to the bottom of problems with the Snapdragon chip will progressively ramp up manufacturing of Qualcomm-primarily based handsets (and that most probably way non-Asian markets getting Qualcomm fashions from that time onwards). That signifies that on this situation, Samsung isn't leaving behind Qualcomm according to se, it’s simply hanging its use of the Snapdragon 810 at the again burner for just a little.

Such rumours have taken a fairly extra sensational flip while it used to be alleged the Snapdragon 810 has issues of overheating problems. Qualcomm has strenuously denied those claims, however rumours have when you consider that escalated suggesting that Samsung may just drop Qualcomm’s chip altogether.

Now the recent record from Korean ETNews claims that Samsung is actively positioning itself as an immediate competitor to Qualcomm with its personal Exynos chip. Allegedly, Samsung goes to “struggle”.

“SEC is making plans to considerably building up using its ‘Exynos 7420’ in its strategic style Galaxy S6 this yr. Qualcomm’s ‘Snap Dragon 810’ used to be implemented to the P Flex 2, just lately launched by way of LG Electronics, and Xiaomi’s Mi Note Pro. The APs may also compete fiercely to seek out their approach into different producers’ top class smartphones scheduled to be unveiled in February or March.”

The line is going that Samsung’s Exynos 7 tech, together with the Exynos 7420 believed to be changing the Snapdragon 810 within the Galaxy S6, makes use of a 14 nanometre (nm) structure versus Qualcomm’s 20nm hardware. Samsung is having a bet on its chips acting higher, and certainly, leaks and studies would seem to signify, at least ostensibly, that that is certainly the case. We’ve now seen benchmarks of the Exynos chip inside of what might appear to be the Galaxy S6, in comparison to leaked benchmarks of the HTC One M9 (Snapdragon 810 primarily based) and each LG’s K Flex 2 and the Xiomi Mi Note, that have introduced lately, raise the 810 SoC. The Exynos hardware carried out higher in leaked Geekbench checks than the Qualcomm chip on HTC’s One M9. Exynos main points may additionally seem to return out extra favourably in comparison to knowledge at the aforementoned launched units from LG and Xiomi, as ETNews stories:

“Looking at the disclosed specs, e.g. the CPU velocity, procedure and energy intake, Samsung’s Exynos 7420 has the higher hand. The running velocity of Exynos is 2.1GHz, quicker than that of Qualcomm’s Snap Dragon 810 (1.6GHx). As the 14nm generation is implemented, it consumes much less energy than the Qualcomm chip in line with the 20nm generation.”

An unnamed business insider reportedly stated that the benchmarks and specifications on my own might now not essentially point out actual-lifestyles efficiency, however brought that the “superiority in specs will unquestionably provide a advertising possibility to Samsung Electronics’ AP”

The most effective actual kicker for Samsung is that in contrast to Qualcomm’s Snapdragon it has so far did not convey a chip to marketplace with integrated LTE modems; Qualcomm’s built-in modems additionally duvet a variety of cellular knowledge bands.

We can pose quite a lot of theories as to why Samsung is making this strategic transfer. Firstly, Samsung would possibly now believe that it is able to take a hefty bite of the cellular processor business - so far it has in large part been a -horse race among Nvidia and Qualcomm, with occasional outrunners from Intel, MediaTek and others however in contemporary months Qualcomm has completely ruled the field to the purpose of stagnation. MediaTek additionally now seems to be on the upward push, and Samsung has the generally revealed status of being the producer of Apple’s O-collection chips for iPhones and iPads - if there used to be ever a time to make a transfer now might most likely be it.

Another issue may well be differentiation, which to an quantity is going hand-in-hand with the primary aspect - Qualcomm is now so dominant within the area that buyers appear to be fatigued through the sheer ubiquity of Snapdragon silicon and the sameness it creates from tool to software. Many units, together with Samsung’s personal Galaxy S5 flagship, have come beneath fireplace for now not innovating sufficient over successive generations. Crucially then, if Samsung can display shoppers that its personal chips provide it an edge over rival flagships from LG, Sony, HTC and the remaining (all the use of Qualcomm), then it is going to have a key merit.

Paul Briden 17:31, 27 Jan 2015
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