In a significant strategic shift for its semiconductor division, Samsung Electronics is charting a course to end its reliance on external graphics technology. Recent reports from South Korea indicate the tech giant is developing its own GPU architecture, with plans to debut it in a future flagship mobile processor, tentatively named the Exynos 2800, as soon as 2027. This move marks a pivotal step in Samsung's quest for greater hardware-software synergy and a larger slice of the competitive AI chip market.
Reported Timeline & Key Details
- Current Partnership: Samsung has used AMD's RDNA-based Xclipse GPU in Exynos chips since 2022.
- New Direction: Samsung confirms development of its own, in-house GPU architecture.
- Target Chipset: The GPU is slated for use in the tentatively named Exynos 2800.
- Target Launch Window: As soon as 2027.
- Potential Device: Likely to debut in the Samsung Galaxy S28 series.
- Process Node: Expected to use Samsung's advanced 2nm GAA process (2nd or 3rd gen).
Samsung's Strategic Pivot to In-House GPU Development
For years, Samsung's high-performance Exynos chipsets have leveraged graphics technology from AMD through their Xclipse GPU series, a partnership that began in 2022. However, industry sources cited by The Korea Economic Daily confirm that Samsung is now preparing to replace this licensed architecture with a proprietary, self-designed GPU. The decision is driven by the escalating importance of graphics processing units, not just for rendering visuals but as critical engines for on-device artificial intelligence computations. By bringing GPU design in-house, Samsung aims to achieve a level of hardware and software optimization that is difficult to attain with third-party IP, potentially leading to significant gains in AI performance and power efficiency for its future smartphones and other devices.
Strategic Rationale
- AI & Optimization: Rising importance of GPUs for on-device AI computing. In-house design allows for deeper hardware-software optimization.
- Business Expansion: Enables growth of Samsung's ASIC (Application-Specific Integrated Circuit) business, allowing it to design custom chips for external clients.
- Talent Acquisition: Began major hiring push in 2023, recruiting seasoned GPU engineers with salaries reported between KRW 300-400 million annually, and up to KRW 1 billion for experts. Key hire includes John Rayfield, former VP of GPU Architecture at AMD.
The Broader Ambitions Behind the Silicon Shift
The development of an independent GPU architecture extends beyond benefiting Samsung's own Galaxy smartphone lineup. It represents a cornerstone of a broader ambition to expand the company's application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) business. With a proprietary GPU core, Samsung can offer more competitive and customized chip designs to external clients, much like industry players such as Broadcom. This move could transform Samsung Foundry's business model, allowing it to compete more directly as a full-service chip designer for a diverse range of customers, from automotive to data center companies, rather than solely as a manufacturing partner.
Building the Talent for a GPU Future
This transition has been years in the making. A separate report from The Korea Herald notes that Samsung began laying the groundwork in 2023 with an aggressive recruitment campaign targeting seasoned GPU engineers. To attract top talent, the company has reportedly offered substantial compensation packages, with annual salaries for general engineers ranging from KRW 300 million to KRW 400 million, and senior experts commanding up to KRW 1 billion. The hiring spree reached a notable peak with the recruitment of John Rayfield, formerly Vice President of GPU Architecture at AMD, whose expertise will be invaluable in navigating the complexities of high-performance graphics design and avoiding the pitfalls of Samsung's earlier, less successful in-house GPU attempts.
Roadmap and Implications for the Galaxy Ecosystem
The Exynos 2800, slated for a 2027 launch, is positioned as the inaugural platform for this new GPU technology. It is expected to be fabricated on one of Samsung's advanced 2nm-class Gate-All-Around (GAA) process nodes, either the second or third generation, depending on production readiness. Following Samsung's typical product cycle, the Exynos 2800 is anticipated to power the Galaxy S28 series smartphones. If successful, this shift would give Samsung unprecedented control over the entire system-on-a-chip (SoC) design for its flagship devices, potentially closing the performance and efficiency gap with rivals and creating a more distinct and integrated technological identity for the Galaxy ecosystem.
The confirmation of an in-house Samsung GPU signals the start of a new chapter in mobile silicon. While the partnership with AMD brought credible graphics performance to Exynos chips, the long-term future now hinges on Samsung's ability to internally cultivate the expertise needed to design a world-class GPU from the ground up. The success of the Exynos 2800 will not only determine the competitiveness of future Galaxy phones but also the viability of Samsung's ambitions to become a leading force in custom AI chip design for the wider industry.