Aamir Siddiqui / Android Authority
TL;DR
- Separate leaks and reports suggest that Samsung could likely use the new Snapdragon 8 Elite chip for the entire Galaxy S25 series.
- Leaks leading up to this point had indicated that the company was weighing its options, pitching the MediaTek Dimensity 9400 and Exynos 2500 as alternatives for some phones in the lineup.
- The Snapdragon 8 Elite will allow the Galaxy S25, S25 Plus, and S25 Ultra to broadly offer the same performance.
The Samsung Galaxy S25 series will soon replace the Galaxy S24 series, pitching itself as one of the top Android flagship recommendations for the coming year. Leaks so far have been highlighting how Samsung was allegedly thinking of diversifying its chip choices for its flagship lineup, weighing its options with the MediaTek Dimensity 9400 and the rumored Exynos 2500 SoC. But we’re hearing more and more of Samsung settling down on a chip, and the winner seems to be the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite for the entire Galaxy S25 series.
Leaker Ice Universe claims the upcoming Galaxy S25 series will use the Snapdragon 8 Elite chip and skip out on the Exynos 2500 and Dimensity 9400.
Leaker Chun Bhai, citing unnamed Korean media reports, reaffirms that the Galaxy S25 series will use the Snapdragon 8 Elite across its lineup.
The Galaxy S25 FE is said to use the Exynos 2400 like the Galaxy S24. The Exynos 2500 is said not to be featured on this device or the Galaxy Z Flip 7, which is expected for later in 2025.
These rumors align with previous rumors from Korean media that the Galaxy S25 series will use the Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 SoC, which Qualcomm has rebranded as the Snapdragon 8 Elite. It’s not immediately clear if the leakers are basing their leaks on the same report, as they have not clarified their sources, unfortunately.
The takeaway from these leaks is that it increasingly looks like the Galaxy S25 series will use the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite across the lineup. Since no exceptions have been mentioned for regions, we can presume that the same chip will be used globally.
That’s good news for Samsung fans, as they will get consistent SoC performance on the lineup, largely discounting the exact phone they purchased within the lineup and the region in which they have bought it. Of course, variables like RAM, storage tech, and cooling will affect the end result, but the lineup will broadly stand as fair equals for end users.
Samsung still hasn’t made any announcements to this effect. The head of Samsung’s mobile division, Mr. TM Roh, made an appearance at the Qualcomm Snapdragon Summit but did not offer any concrete insights on the company’s upcoming devices. We’ll have to wait for the company to officially confirm details about the Galaxy S25 series, so take everything with a pinch of salt till then.
