Low-power Solution
Samsung Electronics will develop a graphics processing unit (GPU) optimized for a next generation version of its in-house mobile application processor (AP) Exynos. While strengthening ecosystems centered on the Exynos, the Korean semiconductor giant will focus on developing GPUs that determine smartphone performance. It remains to be seen whether or not the performance of the Galaxy S24 series, which will come out next year, can be significantly enhanced with a customized GPU.
Samsung Electronics announced on April 6 that it will expand its strategic partnership with Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) in the area of next-generation high-performance and low-power graphics intellectual property. The partnership centers on expanding the application of next-generation graphics solutions based on AMD’s ultra-low-power, high-performance Radeon graphics IP to Samsung Electronics’ in-house Exynos chips.
Samsung Electronics plans to expand its partnership with AMD in order to develop GPUs optimized for the Exynos. Previously, the two companies signed a license to use a high-performance graphics design asset architecture named RDNA and jointly developed the RDNA2-based mobile GPU Xclipse last year. It was Samsung Electronics’ first in-house mobile GPU based on AMD design assets. The Xclipse was loaded into the Samsung Electronics Exynos 2200.
The customized GPU is expected to deliver high-performance, high-definition gaming experiences similar to those of console games on smartphones. The mobile GPU is a key component that determines the performance of smartphone games, implementing graphics data for 3D games and converting light information from image sensors into photos and videos. The mobile gaming market is a major market expected to account for 48.6 percent of the total gaming market in 2024.
Samsung Electronics is looking to strengthen ecosystems around the Exynos. Earlier this year, Samsung Electronics launched an AP solution development team under the MX division to sharpen its Exynos competitiveness. The company is also making moves to expand GPU development personnel centered on its U.S. subsidiary and major global research centers.
Much attention is being paid to whether or not Samsung Electronics will be able to raise its share of the mobile AP market where the Korean chipmaker is lagging behind Qualcomm and Apple. According to market research firm Counterpoint Research, global mobile AP market shares as of the third quarter of last year were 35 percent for MediaTek, 31 percent for Qualcomm, and 16 percent for Apple. Samsung Electronics had a share of just 7 percent. Qualcomm and Apple are using their in-house GPUs in their mobile APs, while MediaTek is using ARM’s CPUs in its mobile APs.
Industry insiders are also paying a lot of attention to if the development of customized mobile GPUs will improve the performance of the Galaxy S24 series to be released in 2024. Samsung Electronics is accelerating the development of a next-generation Exynos 2400. The company is expected to begin volume production of the AP as early as this November.
Meanwhile, Samsung Electronics and AMD plan to expand R&D ecosystems for next-generation graphics solutions. “Samsung Electronics is leading innovation in mobile graphics technology with AMD, including the industry’s first application of ray tracing to mobile APs,” said Lee Seok-jun, vice president of the System LSI Business Division at Samsung Electronics. “We will continue to secure differentiated mobile graphics solutions with our expertise and competitiveness in designing low-power solutions.”