MediaTek to Join Samsung Galaxy S25 Chip Suppliers

Korean media reports indicate that MediaTek (2454), a global leader in smartphone chip manufacturing, might soon join the supply chain for Samsung’s upcoming Galaxy S25 flagship series. Traditionally, Samsung's S series has incorporated both in-house Exynos chips and Qualcomm's Snapdragon chips. MediaTek has not commented on these reports.

The Financial News suggests that the Galaxy S25 may feature MediaTek's Dimensity chips in specific regions, in addition to Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 and Samsung's Exynos 2500. The MediaTek chip in question is believed to be the yet-to-be-announced Dimensity 9400. If this proves true, the S25 series would offer variants powered by Exynos 2500, Snapdragon 8 Gen 4, and Dimensity 9400 chips.

Analysts find this development plausible, given that Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 chip is expected to be 30% more expensive than its predecessor. The current Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 reportedly costs around $190-$200 per unit, while the Gen 4 could rise to $260. Including MediaTek as a supplier could help Samsung negotiate better pricing with Qualcomm.

Initial expectations were that the S25 series would exclusively feature Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 chip, set for an October release. However, analysts noted that Samsung is still refining its 3nm process, with the Exynos 2500's yield currently at 40%. Samsung aims to reach a 60% yield by August to begin mass production.

Qualcomm has traditionally released new flagship chips annually, often creating custom versions for Samsung’s premium phones. For instance, the S24 series, including the S24 Ultra and certain S24 Plus models, utilize the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, which boasts advanced AI capabilities.

The collaboration between Samsung and Qualcomm is strong, with Qualcomm outsourcing some chip production to Samsung's foundry, while Samsung incorporates Qualcomm’s main chips in certain phone models. Successfully integrating the Dimensity 9400 into the Galaxy S25 lineup would be a significant achievement for MediaTek.

Some reports also indicate that the Galaxy S25 Ultra will likely feature Qualcomm's Snapdragon chips across all regions, consistent with previous models. However, regional variations of the S25 in Europe, India, and South Korea might include a mix of Samsung's in-house and MediaTek chips.