Samsung’s upcoming foldable, the Galaxy Z Flip 7, is rumored to use its in-house Exynos 2500 processor, which shifts from Qualcomm’s Snapdragon series seen in previous models. According to a reliable tipster, this move could significantly impact pricing and performance, bringing some interesting consumer trade-offs.
Exynos Makes a Comeback
For context, the Galaxy Z Flip 6 was powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, while the latest Galaxy S25 series exclusively uses the Snapdragon 8 Elite. However, rumors suggest that Samsung may reintroduce its Exynos 2500 chipset with the Z Flip 7. This decision aligns with Samsung’s strategy of balancing performance and production costs.
Exynos processors have been criticized for being slightly less powerful than Qualcomm’s alternatives. Despite this, they deliver adequate performance for most users and allow Samsung to lower the price of its devices.
Exynos 2500 Specifications
The Exynos 2500 boasts a 10-core CPU cluster that builds upon the architecture of its predecessor, the Exynos 2400, with several key upgrades:
- Cortex-X925 prime core running at 3.30GHz
- Two Cortex-A725 cores clocked at 2.75GHz
- Five additional Cortex-A725 cores
- Two Cortex-A520 cores optimized for efficiency
The chipset supports 16-bit quad-channel LPDDR5X RAM at 9.6Gbps and UFS 4.0 storage, ensuring faster memory and storage speeds.
On the GPU side, Samsung continues to collaborate with AMD, equipping the Exynos 2500 with the Xclipse 950 GPU based on RDNA 3.5 architecture. The GPU features eight cores clocked at 1.30GHz, promising improvements in graphics performance.
Performance Potential
The Exynos 2500 includes a 56 TOPS NPU for AI tasks and supports 8K video encoding at 30FPS and 8K decoding at 60FPS. The chipset also supports cameras up to 320MP. While these specifications sound impressive, the Exynos 2500 may not match the performance of Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite or MediaTek’s Dimensity 9400.
Production Challenges
Samsung has reportedly faced difficulties mass-producing the Exynos 2500 on its 3nm GAA (Gate-All-Around) process. This likely explains why the chipset wasn’t included in the Galaxy S25 lineup. However, with sufficient supply, Samsung appears ready to feature it in the Galaxy Z Flip 7 and potentially in a more affordable Galaxy Z Flip 7 SE.
What to Expect from the Galaxy Z Flip 7
While there hasn’t been much information about the Z Flip 7 or Z Fold 7, rumors hint at larger displays and the possibility of a budget-friendly SE variant. The Exynos 2500 could reduce production costs, translating into a more accessible price point for foldable enthusiasts.
Samsung’s gamble on the Exynos 2500 will undoubtedly spark debate, but it’s exciting for those looking to balance innovation and value.
