Samsung goes after Qualcomm with 5G mobile processor
Samsung Electronics unveiled its first fifth-generation (5G)-integrated mobile processor, dubbed Exynos 980, Wednesday, in its efforts to catch up with U.S. chipmaker Qualcomm, which has maintained the powerhouse position in the global application processor (AP) market.
The Korean tech giant said its latest mobile processor combines high-end connectivity with an integrated 5G modem and intelligent processing performance in a single chip.
The introduction of the new product comes amid Samsung’s ongoing efforts to strengthen its competitiveness in the non-memory chip sector and reduce its reliance on the memory chip business.
Samsung earlier announced a plan to take the top ranking in the global non-memory chip market. It is essential for Samsung to destroy the stronghold that Qualcomm has on the AP market if it wants to become a leader in the non-memory sector.
“With the introduction of our 5G modem last year, Samsung has been driving the 5G revolution and paving the way towards the next step in mobility,” said Ben Hur, vice president of System LSI marketing at Samsung Electronics. “With the 5G-integrated Exynos 980, Samsung is pushing to make 5G more accessible to a wider range of users and continues to lead innovation in the mobile 5G market.”
The Exynos 980 is Samsung’s first artificial intelligence mobile processor with an integrated 5G modem.
The 5G-enabled product helps reduce power consumption and increases the space efficiency within a device as the functions of two different chips are integrated in a single chip.
The product also delivers compelling camera performance with resolution support for up to 108 megapixels.
Samsung began offering samples of the Exynos 980 to its partners this month, and plans to begin mass production within the end of the year.
The strategy to pull up capability in its non-memory business comes as Samsung has been suffering from sluggish demand for its memory chips.
Referred to as the brain of smartphones, APs are starting to be used in many more products such as self-driving cars, and are expected to expand further to IoT-powered home appliances such as vacuum cleaners.