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Samsung appears poised to shift its chip strategy again. Leaks suggest the company is exploring fully custom CPU and GPU designs for a future Exynos 2800 — a move that would mark a return to in-house core development after years of relying on third-party IP.
Why a return to custom silicon matters
According to a Weibo tip from Smart Chip Guide, the Exynos 2800 could ditch standard ARM CPU cores and AMD's RDNA-based GPUs, which have powered Samsung's flagship Exynos chips since 2022. If true, Samsung would regain greater control over performance tuning, power efficiency and AI workloads across Galaxy devices.
Lessons from the Mongoose era
This isn’t Samsung’s first attempt at custom CPU cores. Between 2016 and 2020 the company developed the Mongoose architecture in Austin, producing impressive peak performance numbers but struggling with real-world efficiency and thermal limits. Those shortcomings helped push Samsung back to off-the-shelf ARM designs. So why try again now?
Manufacturing advances give Samsung a second chance
One big reason: process technology. Samsung’s roadmap includes a 2nm Gate-All-Around (GAA) node that promises substantial efficiency and density gains compared with earlier nodes. Combined with modern design tools and more mature power-management techniques, the company may feel better equipped to avoid the old trade-offs that hurt Mongoose chips.
GPU control could reshape AI on Galaxy phones
A custom GPU would also be strategic. Mobile GPUs increasingly carry AI workloads, and owning GPU IP lets Samsung optimize on-device neural processing, memory pipelines, and system-level interactions between CPU, NPU and modem. That tighter integration could yield better battery life and more consistent performance for AR, camera processing and on-device AI features.
What to expect and the road ahead
- Timeline: The Exynos 2800 is rumored to arrive with the Galaxy S28 series in 2028, giving Samsung several years to refine the architecture.
- Interim chips: The Exynos 2600, expected in the Galaxy S26, may be the last Exynos to use AMD’s RDNA graphics, even if Samsung handles much of the GPU implementation.
- Risk vs reward: Custom silicon can deliver differentiation — think Apple’s integrated approach — but it’s expensive and technically demanding. Samsung’s prior experience offers both lessons and warnings.
Can Samsung compete with Apple’s integrated model?
Moving to in-house CPU and GPU designs signals a clear intent to compete more directly with Apple’s tightly integrated silicon strategy. But success isn’t guaranteed. Samsung needs to balance raw performance with thermal and efficiency constraints, and avoid repeating past mistakes. Still, improved process nodes and a longer development runway could tip the scales in its favor.
Whether Exynos 2800 becomes a turning point for Samsung’s silicon roadmap will depend on execution — and patience. For now, the leak points to an ambitious plan that, if realized, would reshape how Galaxy phones handle performance, efficiency and AI.
Source: gizmochina
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