Samsung is gearing up to unveil its next-generation flagship smartphones in mid-January, and the upcoming Galaxy S25 series is set to follow in the footsteps of its predecessors by offering three models: the Galaxy S25, Galaxy S25 Plus, and the Galaxy S25 Ultra. As expected, the Galaxy S25 Ultra will be the crown jewel of the lineup, with the new Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset powering it across the globe. Meanwhile, the other two variants, the S25 and S25 Plus, will likely feature either Qualcomm’s Snapdragon or Samsung's own Exynos processors, depending on the region.
However, it seems that 2025 may be the year when the differences in performance between the Exynos and Snapdragon chips are more pronounced than ever. Early benchmark leaks are hinting at disappointing results for the Exynos 2500, which is expected to power the Galaxy S25 Plus. This revelation raises questions about whether Samsung can continue to deliver competitive performance across its flagship range or whether it will be forced to make changes to its chip strategy.
Exynos 2500 Benchmark Performance
In November, the Galaxy S25 Plus was spotted in benchmark databases, running on Samsung's own Exynos 2500 chipset. This model, identified with the code SM-S936B (compared to the SM-S926B for the S24 Plus), reappeared in Geekbench testing with some notable results that shed light on its raw performance.
The Exynos 2500 chip comes with a 10-core CPU setup, split into three core groups:
- 1x Performance Core running at 3.30 GHz
- 2x High-Performance Cores running at 2.75 GHz
- 5x Mid-range Cores running at 2.36 GHz
- 2x Efficiency Cores running at 1.8 GHz
With 12 GB of RAM and Android 15, the Galaxy S25 Plus managed to score 2,358 points in single-core performance and 8,211 points in multi-core performance on Geekbench.
At first glance, these numbers may seem respectable, but when compared to industry leaders, especially the Snapdragon 8 Elite and Dimensity 9400, they fall short. Both the Snapdragon 8 Elite and Dimensity 9400 use an 8-core configuration and have abandoned efficiency cores for a focus on performance, likely contributing to the Exynos 2500's relatively lower scores.
The fact that the Exynos 2500 uses a 10-core setup, with multiple cores dedicated to efficiency, suggests that Samsung's chipset may struggle to compete with more modern, streamlined competitors. These benchmarks raise an important concern: will the Exynos 2500 be a bottleneck for the Galaxy S25 Plus, especially when compared to the Snapdragon 8 Elite powering the Ultra variant?
Will the Galaxy S25 Plus Be Outperformed?
The Exynos 2500's underwhelming performance has led to speculation about Samsung's strategy for the upcoming S25 series. Historically, Samsung has used Exynos processors for its devices sold in specific markets, like Europe, while the Snapdragon chip is used in other regions like the US and parts of Asia. However, with the performance disparity between the Exynos 2500 and the Snapdragon 8 Elite becoming more pronounced, it’s now unclear whether Samsung will continue this practice or revise its approach.
If the Galaxy S25 Plus and the base S25 are launched with the Exynos 2500, the difference in performance between the Ultra and these models could be stark. Will Samsung be able to justify the price disparity between the Ultra and the other two models by emphasizing the enhanced features of the Snapdragon 8 Elite? Or will it make the strategic decision to roll out the Snapdragon 8 Elite globally to ensure parity in performance across the board?
Production Issues with Exynos 2500?
Beyond performance, there are growing concerns about production challenges with the Exynos 2500. Some rumors suggest that Samsung has faced difficulties ramping up manufacturing to meet the demands for large-scale production of the Exynos 2500. If these production issues are true, they could lead to significant delays or even a last-minute shift in Samsung's chip strategy for the Galaxy S25 lineup.
Should Samsung continue to struggle with the Exynos 2500's production, it could be forced to make a dramatic change. This might include opting for Qualcomm’s Snapdragon processors across all regions or delaying the launch of the S25 series to address production challenges.
What’s Next for Samsung?
As the official Galaxy S25 launch event approaches, the fate of the Exynos 2500 remains uncertain. Samsung could decide to push forward with its own chip despite the performance shortcomings or pivot to a more uniform global strategy by equipping all models with the Snapdragon 8 Elite. The performance gap revealed by the latest Geekbench scores could influence Samsung’s final decision, as they’ll need to ensure the Galaxy S25 series can compete with other flagships in 2025.
For now, the most pressing question remains: will Samsung stick with the Exynos 2500, or will we see a shift towards Snapdragon across the board? We’ll likely have to wait until January to find out, but given the stakes involved, it’s clear that Samsung is facing a critical moment in its battle for dominance in the flagship smartphone market.
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