In May, a wild rumor said the Galaxy S25 series might use a MediaTek Dimensity processor in some regions. While we haven’t heard much about it lately, a fresh rumor once again hints at MediaTek powering the next-gen Samsung flagships. The company allegedly plans to ship the base Galaxy S25 model with a Dimensity chipset.
Samsung might consider using a MediaTek chip in the Galaxy S25
Samsung’s flagship smartphones have traditionally featured Qualcomm’s Snapdragon chipsets in the US, China, and a few select markets. The company uses its in-house Exynos processors in the rest of the world, including Europe. This pattern held for several years, except in 2023 when the Galaxy S23 series launched exclusively with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 worldwide. The Korean firm didn’t make a flagship Exynos chip last year.
In 2024, Samsung reverted to its dual-chip strategy but with a twist. While the Galaxy S24 Ultra features the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 globally, the other two models also have an Exynos 2400 version. The Exynos-powered units are sold in Europe, India, and many other markets. Fans expected a similar approach for the Galaxy S25 series next year. Perhaps many wanted the company to ditch Exynos and go all-in with Snapdragon again.
There have been rumors about Samsung canceling the Exynos version because of poor yields of its 3nm Exynos 2500. However, the company appears reluctant to solely use the Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 (also 3nm, but produced by TSMC) in Galaxy S25 phones. Qualcomm is said to be increasing the price of its next-gen flagship processor, potentially forcing Samsung to charge more for the new phones or lower its profit margin.
The perfect middle ground might be MediaTek. The Taiwanese firm typically sells its comparable flagship chipsets cheaper than Qualcomm. Its upcoming Dimensity 9400, which uses the same 3nm TSMC process as the Snapdragon 8 Gen 4, will allegedly cost $40 less. Samsung might use it on the base Galaxy S25 to save cost. The company recently introduced MediaTek chips to its flagship tablets, the Galaxy Tab S10 series. It remains to be seen if its flagship phones follow suit.
