Samsung has unveiled its Galaxy S24 series, sparking interest in its choice of processors. In a significant move, Samsung has reintroduced its in-house Exynos chips, specifically the Exynos 2400, for the Galaxy S24 and S24+ models in most markets worldwide.
This comes after a year of exclusive reliance on Qualcomm’s Snapdragon processors in the Galaxy S23 series. However, in select regions like Canada, China, and the U.S., these models will continue to use the Snapdragon 8 Gen for Galaxy processors.
The Galaxy S24 Ultra exclusively employs the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip. This diverse integration of processors within the same series presents a unique opportunity to delve into a comparative analysis of the Exynos 2400 and Snapdragon 8 Gen 3.
This article aims to provide a detailed examination of these two leading-edge processors, focusing on their specifications, performance metrics, and the potential impact on user experience by analysing aspects such as their manufacturing processes, as well as CPU and GPU capabilities.
AI and neural processing, and wireless connectivity, we aim to offer a comprehensive understanding of what each processor brings to the table in the highly competitive smartphone market.
Manufacturing Process
The manufacturing processes and technological advancements behind the Exynos 2400 and Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chips are at the forefront of the semiconductor industry’s latest achievements.
The Exynos 2400 is a product of Samsung Foundry’s cutting-edge third-generation 4nm process, known as 4LPP+/SF4P. This process represents Samsung’s commitment to pushing the boundaries of chip fabrication, aiming to enhance performance while minimizing power consumption.
The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 is fabricated using TSMC’s second-generation 4nm process, labelled N4P. TSMC’s reputation for precision and efficiency in chip manufacturing is well-recognized, and this latest process is no exception.
It reflects their ongoing efforts to optimize transistor density and energy efficiency.
CPU Architecture and Performance
The CPU architecture and performance of the Exynos 2400 and Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chips showcase the latest advancements in processor design and computing power in the smartphone industry. The Exynos 2400, with its Deca-core configuration, demonstrates Samsung’s innovative approach to multi-core processing.
It features a single Cortex-X4 core clocked at 3.2GHz, offering high-end performance for demanding tasks.
Complementing this are two Cortex-A720 cores at 2.9GHz and three more at 2.6GHz, balancing power and efficiency. The Exynos includes four Cortex-A520 cores at 1.95GHz, optimized for energy efficiency. These are crucial for prolonging battery life during less intensive tasks.
This diverse core arrangement in the Exynos 2400 aims to provide a blend of raw power and energy efficiency, adapting to various user demands. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 follows an octa-core layout. It includes a Cortex-X4 core at a slightly higher 3.3GHz, offering a marginal boost in peak performance over the Exynos.
The Snapdragon also features a unique combination of three Cortex-A720 cores at 3.15GHz and two at 2.96GHz, alongside two power-efficient Cortex-A520 cores at 2.27GHz.This configuration indicates Qualcomm’s focus on providing a balanced performance, ensuring both high-speed processing for demanding applications and energy efficiency for everyday tasks.
Both processors are equipped to handle heavy workloads and multitasking with ease. The slightly higher clock speeds in the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 suggest a potential edge in peak performance scenarios.
Exynos 2400’s additional cores offer advantages in multitasking and maintaining performance over extended periods.
The CPU architecture and performance of both chips reflect their respective company’s strategic design choices, aimed at catering to diverse user needs in the smartphone market.
GPU Capabilities and Gaming Performance
The Exynos 2400 is equipped with the Eclipse 940 GPU, which is based on AMD’s RDNA3 technology. This integration marks a significant collaboration between Samsung and AMD, aiming to bring desktop-level graphics performance to smartphones.
The RDNA3 architecture in the Xclipse 940 is known for its efficient and powerful rendering capabilities, potentially offering enhanced gaming experiences with improved frame rates and realistic visuals.
This GPU also supports advanced features like hardware-based raytracing and Variable Rate Shading (VRS), technologies that are usually found in high-end gaming PCs and consoles. These features enable more immersive and visually stunning gaming experiences on mobile devices.
Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 features the Adreno 750 GPU, which stands as one of the most powerful GPUs in the smartphone segment. Qualcomm’s Adreno GPUs have a long-standing reputation for delivering robust gaming performance, and the Adreno 750 is no exception.
It’s renowned for its high processing power and is capable of handling the most graphically demanding games with ease. Moreover, the Snapdragon’s GPU also supports raytracing and VRS, ensuring that it can offer a gaming experience on par with the latest technological standards.
The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3’s Adreno 750 is touted to be exceptionally powerful, even surpassing Apple’s A17 Pro chip in graphics performance.
The Exynos 2400’s Eclipse 940, with its RDNA3 architecture, presents a significant challenge, potentially offering comparable or superior performance, especially in rendering and frame rate stability.
Factors such as thermal management, driver optimization, and game compatibility will play crucial roles in determining the overall gaming experience.
Both GPUs are more than capable of running high-end games smoothly. Still, the Exynos 2400’s advanced RDNA3 technology might offer an edge in rendering the latest game graphics with more efficiency and visual fidelity.
Display and Multimedia Support
The Exynos 2400 demonstrates its prowess in display technology by supporting QHD+ screens at a 144Hz refresh rate. This feature ensures smooth and clear visuals, which is particularly beneficial for gaming and high-speed content.
It goes a step further by supporting 4K screens at an impressive 120Hz, pushing the boundaries of mobile display technology. This capability not only enhances the user experience for high-definition video content but also sets a new standard for smartphone displays, offering a level of fluidity and clarity that is akin to premium monitors.
Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, while also supporting QHD+ displays at 144Hz, caps its 4K support at 60Hz. Although this is still highly commendable and sufficient for most multimedia applications, it falls short of the Exynos 2400’s higher refresh rate at 4K resolution.
This difference might be particularly noticeable in ultra-high-definition content or in scenarios demanding ultra-smooth motion clarity.
Both processors excel in HDR support, ensuring that users enjoy a wide color gamut and enhanced contrast ratios. This is vital for a more immersive viewing experience. HDR gaming, supported by both chips, allows for more vivid and dynamic gaming visuals, with enhanced details in both bright and dark areas of the screen.
This feature is increasingly important as more games and multimedia content are being created with HDR compatibility in mind.
Multimedia experience on these processors is wider than just visual prowess. They also encompass audio and video playback capabilities, supporting a range of codecs for a seamless and versatile media consumption experience.
This includes support for popular video codecs like H.264, H.265, AV1, and VP9, ensuring compatibility with a wide array of video formats available today.
Efficiency, Thermals, and Sustainability
The efficiency, thermal management, and sustainability of the Exynos 2400 and Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chips are pivotal for the overall performance and user experience of modern smartphones.
Samsung’s Exynos 2400 represents a significant stride towards improving efficiency and thermal performance, potentially challenging the historical dominance of Qualcomm’s Snapdragon chips in these areas.
By employing advanced manufacturing techniques and the new FOWLP technology, the Exynos 2400 aims to deliver enhanced performance while managing heat more effectively.
On the other hand, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 continues Qualcomm’s legacy of efficient, thermally stable design, maintaining its strong reputation for balance and reliability. Both chips also contribute to sustainability through the use of smaller, more efficient fabrication processes, reducing material usage and energy consumption.
The true measure of these advancements will be seen in real-world applications, where the balance between high performance, energy efficiency, and effective thermal management becomes crucial for the end-user experience.
AI and Neural Processing Capabilities
Both chips feature advanced Neural Processing Units (NPUs) that are central to powering a wide range of AI-based applications. These NPUs enable faster and more efficient processing of machine learning tasks directly on the device, reducing the reliance on cloud-based computations.
This on-device processing capability is crucial for tasks that require immediate responses, such as real-time language translation, image recognition, and enhanced camera functionalities like scene detection and optimization.
The Exynos 2400’s NPU is designed to handle complex AI tasks, ensuring swift and efficient processing of large data sets. This capability is particularly beneficial for emerging AI applications in smartphones, including generative AI-based text-to-image creation and advanced image-to-text conversions.
The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3’s NPU is engineered for high-performance AI computations, supporting a range of on-device AI functions. Qualcomm has a history of integrating powerful AI engines in their chipsets, and the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 continues this trend.
It’s optimized for various AI tasks, including language processing, AI-based image and video enhancements, and intelligent performance management, which adjusts the device’s performance based on user behaviour.
While it’s challenging to directly compare the NPUs’ performance without real-world testing, both the Exynos 2400 and Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 are equipped to handle the increasing demands of AI in smartphones.
The integration of these powerful NPUs highlights the shift towards more intelligent and autonomous mobile devices capable of processing complex AI tasks with ease and efficiency.
Wireless Connectivity and Network Support
The wireless connectivity and network support features of the Exynos 2400 and Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chips are critical components that significantly enhance the communication capabilities of modern smartphones.
Both processors come equipped with fully integrated 5G modems, ensuring that devices powered by these chips are well-prepared for the latest in high-speed mobile internet connectivity.
The support for both mmWave and sub-6GHz bands in these modems means that they can leverage the full spectrum of 5G networks, offering users faster download and upload speeds, lower latency, and more reliable connections.
The Exynos 2400 stands out with its peak download speeds of up to 12.1Gbps, which is notably higher than the Snapdragon’s 10Gbps.
This edge in theoretical speed could translate into faster real-world data transfer rates, providing an advantage in scenarios where large amounts of data need to be downloaded or streamed.
In addition to 5G, both chips also support legacy 2G, 3G, and 4G LTE networks, ensuring backward compatibility and broad coverage. This is especially important in areas where 5G still needs to be fully rolled out.
Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 has the edge in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity, boasting the latest Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4 technologies, compared to the Exynos 2400’s support for Wi-Fi 6E and likely Bluetooth 5.3. This means the Snapdragon chip might offer faster Wi-Fi speeds and more reliable Bluetooth connections.
Both processors support Non-Terrestrial Network (NTN) satellite connections. This feature becomes invaluable in emergency conditions or in areas without conventional cellular network coverage.
This technology allows for two-way communications through satellites, broadening the scope of connectivity beyond traditional networks.
Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 uniquely supports NavIC (India’s own satellite-based positioning system) and QZSS (from Japan), providing more accurate location services in these regions.
Exynos 2400 vs Gen 3 Benchmarking
Benchmark scores, such as those from AnTuTu and Geek Bench, are commonly used to gauge the performance of these processors. According to leaked AnTuTu scores, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 appears to have a performance edge over the Exynos 2400.
In the AnTuTu benchmark, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 scored approximately 1,819,945 points, whereas the Exynos 2400 scored 1,699,940 points. This suggests a 7% lead in overall performance for the Snapdragon chip.
In Geek Bench, which measures raw CPU performance, both chips show comparable scores in single and multi-core tests, indicating similar capabilities in handling day-to-day tasks and multi-threaded applications.
Slight variations in scores can be observed, potentially reflecting differences in their CPU configurations and clock speeds.
In terms of GPU performance, which is crucial for gaming and graphic-intensive applications, the Snapdragon’s Adreno 750 has shown impressive results, often outperforming competitors.
The Exynos 2400, with its AMD RDNA3-based Xclipse 940 GPU, also demonstrates strong capabilities, especially in terms of rendering and frame rate stability. The real-world gaming performance would depend on various factors, including game optimization, thermal management, and driver support.
Battery life and efficiency benchmarks, such as those measuring power consumption under different usage scenarios, are also critical. These tests can provide insights into how efficiently each processor uses power, impacting the device’s battery life and overall user experience.
Snapdragon chips have been known for their efficiency. Still, the Exynos 2400’s new manufacturing process and design could offer improvements in this area.
Final Thoughts
Both chips represent significant technological advancements, showcasing the latest innovations in semiconductor manufacturing, CPU and GPU design, and AI processing capabilities.
The Exynos 2400, with its Samsung Foundry’s third-generation 4nm process and Deca-core CPU configuration, shows Samsung’s commitment to pushing the boundaries in chip design. Its integration of AMD’s RDNA3 technology in the GPU also marks a significant leap in mobile graphics performance.
The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, fabricated using TSMC’s second-generation 4nm process and featuring Qualcomm’s renowned Adreno GPU, continues to uphold its reputation for delivering robust, efficient, and well-balanced performance.
Its slight edge in benchmark scores suggests superior overall performance, particularly in GPU-intensive tasks.
Both processors excel in AI and neural processing capabilities, a testament to the growing importance of AI in enhancing mobile experiences.
Their advanced NPUs enable a range of on-device AI functions, from language processing to enhanced camera functionalities, making smartphones more intelligent and responsive to user needs.
Connectivity is another area where both chips shine, with integrated 5G modems supporting the latest network standards. Snapdragon 8 Gen 3’s support for Wi-Fi 7 and additional satellite-based navigation systems gives it an edge in this domain.
The choice between the Exynos 2400 and Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 may come down to regional availability and specific user preferences. For users prioritizing cutting-edge graphics and peak performance metrics, the Snapdragon might be more appealing.
Those intrigued by Samsung’s advancements in CPU design and potential improvements in efficiency and thermal management might lean toward the Exynos.
