Samsung Electronics unveils Exynos 2100 mobile processing chip

Kang In-yup, president of the System LSI Business at Samsung Electronics, delivers a speech during CES 2021 on Tuesday. [SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS]

Samsung Electronics unveiled its latest mobile processing chip Exynos 2100 built on an advanced process node during the CES 2021 on Tuesday, posing a major challenge to Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 888.

The newest chipset, based on 5-nanometer extreme ultraviolet (EUV) processes, is designed for 5G-enabled premium smartphone products — possibly including the Samsung Galaxy S21 — as it is fitted with a 5G modem.

The Exynos 2100 follows the Exynos 1080, announced back in November, which is Samsung’s first 5-nanometer mobile processor tailored for mid-range smartphones.

The Korean chipmaker said that the Exynos 2100 achieved a 30 percent increase in central processing unit (CPU) performance and 40 percent advancement in the graphics processing unit (GPU) compared to its predecessor, the Exynos 990.

But the big question is how it differs from the Snapdragon 888, the newest mobile processor manufactured by Qualcomm.

Both solutions come with similar CPU arrangements developed by Cambridge, Britain-based ARM with Samsung having a slightly higher clock rate.

The main difference lies in graphics processing, as Samsung adopted ARM’s Mali G78 GPU system while Qualcomm uses the Adreno 660.

As for image processing, Samsung packs in an image signal processor (ISP) that supports camera resolutions of up to 200 megapixels.

The processor can connect up to six individual sensors and is able to process four simultaneously.

The Snapdragon 888 features a comparable image processor, but it can only process three sensors concurrently.

Still, the headline numbers will have to be put to the test when it is released, presumably in the first half of this year.

Samsung stuck a confident note that its latest chipset will deliver on its promises.

“Today we are delighted to introduce the Exynos 2100, our most advanced mobile processor yet," said Kang In-yup, president of the System LSI Business at Samsung Electronics. "Armed with powerful processing technologies and an advanced 5G modem on a power-efficient 5-nanometer process node, Exynos 2100 will set a new standard for tomorrow’s flagship mobile devices."

BY PARK EUN-JEE [park.eunjee@joongang.co.kr]