Technology
Samsung phones might use TSMC-made Exynos chip
Samsung Galaxy S25 series could not use Exynos 2500 due to yield concerns. A new rumor suggests that Samsung could manufacture a future Exynos chip using a TSMC process node. It’s a very wild input, rendering fans in a head-scratching situation.
Tipster Jukanlosreve claimed that Samsung is “considering” manufacturing Exynos with TSMC. The revelation appears at a time when we are nearing to the potential Galaxy S25 series unveiling early next year.
Recently, it was reported that TSMC’s 3nm yield rate is above 80%. It’s a stable yield rate, with rumors citing the rate is peaking up to 90%. Usually, chip manufacturers target a 70-75% yield rate to conduct mass production of chipsets.
TSMC is the biggest rival of Samsung Foundry business. Over the years, the Taiwanese firm widened the gap with its Korean counterpart. It has plenty of major clients including Apple, Qualcomm, MediaTek and Google.
Until the Pixel 9’s Tensor, Samsung has produced Google’s chipsets. However, the Pixel maker switched its production partner, taking TSMC in. The planned 3nm Exynos 2500 is also reportedly canceled due to extremely low yield.
Samsung + TSMC: Is it possible?
An alliance between Samsung and TSMC is not impossible, it could indeed be materialized. Samsung’s System LSI business designs Exynos for Galaxy devices. Samsung Foundry is responsible for the fabrication of mobile platforms.
Silicon manufactured using the TSMC process is way better than Samsung Foundry-made products. TSMC chips offer better performance and decent power efficiency, as well as lower overheating concerns than Samsung Foundry.
We’ve heard Samsung’s plan to spin off its Foundry division in the next three to five years. Until the Samsung Foundry reaches an adequate level of yield rate and manufacturing advancements, System LSI can ink a deal with TSMC.
Samsung has unveiled its TVKey Cloud technology to transform the way consumers experience television in India. Available through popular cable and satellite providers like GTPL Hathway and Dish TV, TVKey Cloud removes the need for a traditional set-top box. It is making the TV experience simpler, cleaner, and more convenient.
Samsung collaborated with NAGRAVISION to develop the TVKey Cloud, which is a first-of-its-kind technology that allows users to watch live TV, on-demand content, and OTT services directly on their Samsung Smart TVs. Notably, it’s all done without extra devices or cables.
This new technology is built into the TV itself to make it easy to access everything with just the TV remote. It works with Samsung’s 2023 and 2024 models, including Ultra HD, OLED, QLED, and Neo QLED TVs.
TVKey Cloud delivers high-quality content with excellent security to keep everything from TV shows to movies protected. This ensures that content creators and service providers can safely share their content with viewers while providing a smooth, premium viewing experience.
For consumers, Samsung TVKey Cloud brings some great savings in India. GTPL Hathway customers can save up to INR 2750, with benefits like free broadband installation, a router, and additional subscriptions to gaming and live TV apps. Dish TV users can save up to INR 2800, with one month of free DTH and OTT subscriptions.
Microsoft has started rolling out its Recall feature, and now users with certain Samsung Galaxy Book laptops can try it out in a preview. This feature helps users find things they’ve worked on in the past by using AI.
Announced in May 2024, this tool caused some concerns because it takes screenshots of what you do on your PC. However, Microsoft has worked to improve privacy and security. The company also addressed the issues and provided an option to stop Recall from taking screenshots in certain apps or websites.
The Recall feature allows you to search for things you’ve done in the past. You can type a natural language or use a timeline to scroll through your activities and find specific apps, files, or websites you were using at a certain time. It helps you quickly locate things you worked on, even if you can’t remember exactly when or where you saved them.
For now, the Microsoft Recall feature is available to users of the Galaxy Book 4 Edge and Galaxy Book 5 Pro 360 laptops. These laptops come with powerful processors (Snapdragon X Elite and Intel Lunar Lake) that support the AI features of Recall.
To use the Recall feature, you need to join the Windows Insider Program’s Dev Channel and opt into the preview. While Recall is still in the testing phase, it offers an easy way to search for and find things you’ve worked on in the past.
I have been a huge fan of technology, always eager to explore the latest electronic gadgets including smartphones, headphones, laptops, and several others. I have owned the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold4 5G for two years now, using it as my secondary phone for the last year.
I have always treated it carefully, so you can imagine my situation when I noticed a small black dot on the inner screen of the fold. It wasn’t long before the entire inner display stopped working, while at the same time, the outside screen remained just fine.
This has been quite a setback for me, particularly because I paid over $2000. You expect something that expensive to last, right? But here I am, with a phone where the main feature—the folding screen—is dead. Samsung wants around $650 to fix it, which seems a lot, especially since the phone itself is now only worth around $800-900 if I go for the trade-in. This questions how well these expensive foldable phones hold their value over time.
What’s even more frustrating is not knowing why the screen failed. After using various Samsung foldable phones over the years, this issue makes me think twice about the reliability of the foldable. It’s not just about my experience; it’s a concern for anyone interested in foldable technology.
I am highlighting a difference between Samsung’s marketing narrative, where the company positions itself as a leader in innovation and customer service and the experience with its products. The failure of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold4’s inner display questions whether Samsung truly stands by its products when the product faces issues.
By sharing my experience here, I want to inform other buyers like me about the potential pitfalls of purchasing such high-end tech. I also want to influence Samsung to reconsider its approach to customer service and product reliability by bringing attention to these issues.
Despite being excited about the concept of foldable phones, especially the easy multitasking feature (my favorite), this negative experience has led to hesitation (or doubt in my case) about future purchases.
I hope Samsung will recognize these customer experiences and attempt to address such issues, either through improved product design, enhanced customer support, or more transparent communication about product limitations or potential issues.
These sudden breakdowns are damaging Samsung’s foldable phones’ reputation and might make potential buyers think twice before getting one.
Disclaimer
I have reviewed all Samsung Galaxy Z Fold and Flip devices launched to date. I will share more information on my X account. You can connect me there.