Samsung is shaking up the internal blueprint for its next massive entry-level volume driver. According to a new report, the tech giant decided to completely remove its own Exynos processors from the upcoming Samsung Galaxy A18 supply chain. Instead, the company is dividing the hardware responsibilities between third-party giants Qualcomm and MediaTek to combat rising global component costs. That would translate into an upcoming Galaxy A18 4G powered by a MediaTek chip.
Dividing the cellular generations
The information comes from ZDNet Korea. The decision marks a clean break from last year’s setup. While the current Galaxy A17 split its layout between a MediaTek Helio G99 for the 4G variant and Samsung’s own 5-nanometer Exynos 1330 for the 5G version, the new iteration shifts strategies entirely.
Moving forward, the standard Galaxy A18 4G will continue to rely on an unannounced MediaTek silicon platform. On the other hand, the faster Galaxy A18 5G is jumping to a Qualcomm Snapdragon processor (via SammyFans). While exact silicon tier designations remain under wraps, securing a Snapdragon slot for the 5G variant heavily favors international markets, particularly the United States, where consumers prefer Qualcomm’s networking stability.
This complete exclusion hurts Samsung’s internal System LSI. This division relies on high-volume legacy chip orders to offset fixed manufacturing costs. However, with memory semiconductor costs surging across the entire industry, the mobile division is fighting hard to control baseline building costs on phones utilizing rigid OLED panels.
A high-volume strategy
Despite their modest price tags, the entry-level A1x series represents a financial cornerstone for the brand. Recent market tracking metrics from Counterpoint Research highlight just how popular these budget devices remain. In the first quarter of the year, both versions of the predecessor landed comfortable spots in the global top-ten smartphone shipment rankings. The 5G model captured fifth place, while the 4G model held ninth place globally.
To maintain this dominance, Samsung is prepping an aggressive production ramp. Component manufacturing for the MediaTek-equipped 4G version is already underway to meet an active August mass assembly target. Initial production runs will kick off with a modest 100,000 units in August before exploding to 2.4 million units in September and hitting 2.5 million units by October.
Meanwhile, assembly schedules for the Snapdragon-powered 5G variant are currently aligning with Qualcomm’s internal logistical timelines. Consumers can expect the 4G version to debut first in the second half of the year, with the more advanced 5G hardware following a few months later to complete Samsung’s holiday lineup.
The Android Headlines Take
Considering we’re talking about an entry-level device, the choice of MediaTek chips isn’t necessarily a bad thing. The company has proven it can offer capable—and even outstanding—hardware across all segments. Plus, we’re talking about the Galaxy A18 4G, a variant primarily aimed at developing markets. It seems like a reasonable move if it helps keep the price tag down amidst the current landscape of increasingly expensive components.
The post Samsung Ditches Exynos for Next Budget King, Turns to Snapdragon and MediaTek appeared first on Android Headlines.
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