Will Samsung Exynos 2500 feature four Cortex-X5 cores?

Previously, there were reports that Samsung was developing the Exynos 2500, which would feature a GPU customized with AMD technology, although no specific specifications were mentioned. As the Exynos 2400 is expected to arrive in the coming months, more information has surfaced about the Exynos 2500.

Rumor has it that the Samsung Exynos 2500 is a chip designed by Samsung’s “Dream Team” and is currently undergoing testing. According to online sources, the Exynos 2500 will be equipped with four Cortex-X5 cores operating at different frequencies, with one core running between 3.20 GHz and 3.30 GHz, and the other three cores ranging from 2.30 GHz to 2.50 GHz. Additionally, the Exynos 2500 features two Cortex-A730 and four Cortex-A520 cores, with frequencies yet to be determined, and the CPU appears to adopt a 1+3+2+4 cluster design.

The Cortex-X5, Cortex-A730, and Cortex-A520 are designs that Arm has not yet announced. According to Arm’s roadmap, the Cortex-X5 may be released next year. Following several disappointing SoCs, Samsung hopes the Exynos 2500 will completely reverse the downward trend, with high-specification CPU components and the integration of AMD’s new graphics technology, at least on paper, appearing quite promising.

However, the Exynos 2500 is not expected to emerge anytime soon, and it remains full of uncertainties, with rumors suggesting a release approximately two years away. In the meantime, Qualcomm is set to introduce the fourth-generation Snapdragon 8, which should be its first chip for smartphones featuring a custom Oryon core.

Samsung may opt to manufacture the Exynos 2500 using the second-generation 3nm GAA process, with mass production of the new process scheduled for the second half of 2024, which aligns with the timeline. It is understood that the second-generation 3nm GAA process will incorporate the MBCFET architecture, reducing the 3nm chip’s size by 35%, increasing performance by 30%, and lowering power consumption by 50%. If the yield rate can keep up, such improvements should satisfy Samsung.