The Exynos 2500 has been the subject of speculation for several months, yet it remains uncertain compared to Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 4, which has a confirmed launch date. This has sparked rumors that Samsung could end up launching the Galaxy S25 series with only the Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 processor, making the device potentially 30 percent more expensive due to the exclusivity.
The Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 is already hinted to be pricier than its predecessor, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, which might lead Samsung to increase the prices of the Galaxy S25 lineup. Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo previously indicated that Samsung’s lower-than-expected 3nm GAA yields could delay the Exynos 2500, forcing Samsung to rely solely on the Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 for its 2025 flagship models. Despite Samsung’s plan to use both the Exynos 2500 and Snapdragon 8 Gen 4, the Exynos chip has not yet been given an official release date.
According to @yamazaki1812, if the Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 is indeed 30 percent more expensive, this cost increase might be passed on to consumers, or Samsung might absorb some of it, affecting its profits. Qualcomm is set to release two versions of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 4: one with only Wi-Fi capability and another with a 5G modem.
Given this scenario, Qualcomm could potentially demand more from Samsung for the inclusion of the Snapdragon X80 modem in the Galaxy S25 series, further driving up costs. Although Samsung claims its 3nm GAA technology has stable yields, with no Exynos 2500 launch date in sight, Samsung needs a strategic move to address these challenges.
