Tag: Snapdragon

  • Samsung Exynos Shutdown: 4nm, 5nm, 7nm Plants Close Due to Demand

    Samsung Exynos Shutdown: 4nm, 5nm, 7nm Plants Close Due to Demand

    Samsung Electronics is said to be cutting back on its semiconductor foundry operations, particularly focusing on its 4 nm, 5 nm, and 7 nm production lines due to low demand. This move follows substantial financial losses, which are estimated to be in the tens of billions of won for the third quarter of this year, as the company aims to lower expenses and optimize its operations.

    Production Capacity Reduction

    Industry sources indicate that Samsung has already decreased over 30% of its production capacity for the aforementioned process nodes on its Pyeongtaek campus. Plans are in place to raise this reduction to nearly 50% by year’s end.

    Facing Losses in the Foundry

    As reported by South Korean outlet ChosunMedia, the semiconductor sector has had difficulty securing enough mass production orders from significant tech players like Nvidia, AMD, and Qualcomm. This has resulted in a reported loss of 1 trillion won (about USD 724 million) in the last quarter. To cut costs, including electricity expenses, the company is choosing to power down production machines instead of keeping them idle.

    This strategy reflects a larger trend in the industry, especially as lower-than-anticipated orders from Chinese fabless semiconductor firms have impacted the production levels in the 4 and 5 nm processes. Increased U.S. regulations on semiconductor exports to China have led these companies to postpone their projects, worsening conditions for Samsung’s foundry operations.

    Concerns About Competitive Edge

    Experts are cautioning that these closures may undermine Samsung’s competitive edge in the semiconductor arena. With Samsung reallocating resources to its memory division, which has been more lucrative historically, its foundry segment could lag behind competitors like TSMC. Professor Lee Jong-hwan from Sangmyung University warned that this gap could make it difficult for Samsung to catch up once market conditions improve.

    Shift Towards Snapdragon Chips

    In light of the challenges in the foundry sector, Samsung seems to be shifting away from its own Exynos chips toward Qualcomm’s Snapdragon processors. Reports suggest that the forthcoming Galaxy S25 series might incorporate the Dimensity 9400 rather than the Exynos 2500. This change indicates that Samsung is having trouble meeting performance and profitability goals with its Exynos line, resulting in a greater dependence on Qualcomm’s products, even in home appliances increasingly driven by AI functionalities.


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  • Leaked Images Uncover Details on Snapdragon Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5

    Leaked Images Uncover Details on Snapdragon Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5

    Windows on Arm has been a topic of discussion for some time now, primarily due to the upcoming Snapdragon X Elite and Snapdragon X Plus chips expected to debut around "mid-2024." This suggests that the launch of a range of potentially energy-efficient laptops running on this platform is imminent.

    Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5 with Snapdragon X Plus

    Leaks regarding the new chips and laptops continue to emerge, including a couple of images of the upcoming Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5 shared by WalkingCat.

    The images of the upcoming IdeaPad Slim 5 showcase its design, chipset, and ports. It has been confirmed that the laptop will be powered by the Snapdragon X Plus chipset. Based on the performance metrics of the Snapdragon X Plus chip (X1P-64-100), NotebookCheck suggests that this new laptop may be slightly less powerful compared to the IdeaPad Slim 5 Gen 9, which provides options between AMD Ryzen Hawk Point APUs and Intel Meteor Lake processors.

    The Snapdragon X Plus features 10 Qualcomm Oryon CPU cores with a 6+4 architecture (6 high-performance cores and 4 energy-efficient cores). This chip is considered a scaled-down version of the pricier 12-core Snapdragon X Elite chip, both of which are built on TMMC’s 4nm process node.

    Port Configurations and Details

    Apart from the chipset, the images also unveil the port setup of the new device. It includes two USB-C ports, a dedicated HDMI port, and a 3.5mm audio jack on the left side. On the right side, there are two USB-A ports and a microSD card slot. While many upcoming Snapdragon-powered laptops may omit the 3.5mm jack, this particular model retains it.

    Regrettably, these are the only details revealed by the images of the upcoming IdeaPad Slim 5. The initial batch of Snapdragon-powered laptops is expected to launch on May 20, just a few days from now. We will provide more updates as further information becomes available.

    To provide a glimpse of what to anticipate, the IdeaPad Slim 5 14IMH9 boasts a 14" 16:10 aspect ratio OLED display with a 1920 x 1200 resolution, 60Hz refresh rate, and a 100% DCI-P3 rating, priced at $1000.

  • Latest Update: Qualcomm Developing New Mid-Range Mobile Processors

    Latest Update: Qualcomm Developing New Mid-Range Mobile Processors

    Qualcomm is reported by Android Headlines as currently developing three mid-range mobile processors under model numbers: SM4635, SM6650 and SM7635 – likely belonging to their Snapdragon 4, 6 or 7 series series depending on which conventions Qualcomm adheres to for their namesakes.

    Xiaomi Redmi Note 14 Pro will be the inaugural phone to feature Qualcomm’s mid-range chipset SM7635 chipset, known by its code name of "pitti." Meanwhile both SM6650 and SM7635 share this moniker; Roland Quandt had suggested in February that this may be Snapdragon 4 Gen 3, as details surfaced regarding "Kalpeni," an early test project with 6GB LPDDR4X RAM and 256GB UFS 3.1 storage for this particular chip compared with earlier iterations being identified by model numbers SM4375 or 4450 respectively

    Rumors And Predictions

    Rumors surrounding Qualcomm’s "volcano" processors SM6650 and SM7635 suggest they could take an approach similar to its Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 (SM6450) and 7s Gen 2 (SM7435) models (codenamed parrot), with similar specifications; Android Headlines predicted the latter may surpass Snapdragon 7+ Gen 3, thus solidifying Qualcomm’s position in mid-range SoC market; Xiaomi Redmi Note 14 Pro could feature these processors; though details surrounding these processors remain scarce at present – more information should soon become apparent as their release approaches.

  • Alleged Meizu 21x: 5,500mAh Battery in Works, Key Details Emerge

    Alleged Meizu 21x: 5,500mAh Battery in Works, Key Details Emerge

    Meizu recently introduced the Meizu 21 Pro flagship phone in China, featuring the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip. Although initially thought to be the brand’s final smartphone, a leak from tipster Digital Chat Station suggests that Meizu is gearing up to launch another powerful device.

    Potential Meizu 21x on the Horizon

    A new Meizu battery labeled BA468 has received approval from the 3C certification platform in China, boasting a rated capacity of 5,400mAh, hinting at a typical value of 5,500mAh.

    Unveiling Key Specifications

    Following the 3C listing, DCS hinted at key specs of an upcoming smartphone without explicitly naming it. The leaker, using suggestive emojis, possibly hinted at a fresh Meizu phone in the making.

    Meizu seems to be working on a new phone equipped with a midrange Snapdragon AI chipset, as per DCS’ Weibo post. The leak mentions a device with a flat display, supported by a 5,400mAh (rated) / 5,500mAh (typical) BA466 battery and a UP2033 power adapter enabling 66W fast charging.

    In the past, Meizu offered phones across various price brackets in China. However, recent strategies have focused solely on launching flagship smartphones powered by Snapdragon 8-series chips. With rumors of a midrange chip in the new device, it might sport the Snapdragon 7+ Gen 3 SoC.

    The upcoming Meizu phone could likely join the Meizu 21 series, with speculation suggesting it might be named the Meizu 21x upon its debut in the Chinese market.


    Alleged Meizu 21x: 5,500mAh Battery in Works, Key Details Emerge
  • Snapdragon 888 powers Samsung Galaxy M44 (Galaxy Jump 3) released in South Korea

    Snapdragon 888 powers Samsung Galaxy M44 (Galaxy Jump 3) released in South Korea

    Samsung has quietly unveiled a new mid-range smartphone called the Galaxy Jump 3 in South Korea. While the name may differ, it’s believed to be the same phone as the upcoming Galaxy M44 that’s expected to launch globally soon. The phone’s model number, SM-M446KZKAKTC, hints at its M44 identity.

    Samsung Galaxy Jump 3 Specifications

    The Galaxy Jump 3/M44 sports a design typical of Samsung’s mid-range offerings for late 2023, featuring a triple-camera setup on the rear and a notch on the front. It’s also equipped with a 6.58-inch LCD with a 120Hz refresh rate.

    What’s surprising about the Galaxy Jump 3 is its chipset – the Snapdragon 888. This high-end chip was released in 2020, and it’s unclear why Samsung chose to use it in a mid-range phone. However, for those who aren’t fans of Samsung’s Exynos processors, the 888 should offer a significant performance boost.

    Along with the Snapdragon 888, the Galaxy Jump 3 packs 6GB of RAM, 128GB of expandable storage, a 50MP main rear camera, a 13MP selfie camera, and a 5,000mAh battery. The phone measures 167.7 x 78 x 9.1 mm and weighs 216 grams.

    Pricing details for the Galaxy Jump 3 have not yet been announced. And it is unclear whether Samsung will launch the Galaxy M44 globally with the Snapdragon 888 chipset.