Samsung checks Exynos team after repeated setbacks
Samsung has started looking closely at its Exynos and ISOCELL teams because they’ve been falling short lately. Even with big investments, the company is lagging behind its competitors, prompting this review.
Why Samsung Is Examining Its Chip and Camera Teams
According to a report from Chosun Media, Samsung kicked off a performance check for its Samsung Semiconductor unit. A new group called the Management Diagnosis Office, set up in November 2024 under Samsung Global Research, is handling this review.
The Exynos chips, which power many Samsung devices, haven’t been keeping up. For example, the Exynos 990 and Exynos 2200 used too much battery and didn’t perform well compared to rival chips. The Exynos 2400 was a step up, but the next one, Exynos 2500, wasn’t ready on time. Because of these issues, Samsung is also digging into its Samsung Foundry and System LSI teams, which have been losing money for years.
What These Teams Do
Samsung Foundry makes chips for other companies, like Qualcomm and Nvidia. Meanwhile, System LSI creates Exynos processors and ISOCELL camera sensors for cars, phones, tablets, and more. Last year, these teams lost between 4 and 5 trillion KRW (about $2.7 to $3.45 billion). Despite pouring money into its non-memory chip business, Samsung hasn’t seen the results it hoped for. It has also struggled with production issues in advanced processes like 3nm and 4nm chips.
Big Plans, Shrinking Share
Back in 2019, Samsung promised to spend 171 trillion KRW by 2030 to lead the global chip market. But instead of growing, its share has shrunk. In the foundry business, it fell from 19.1% in early 2019 to just 8.2% by late 2024. In camera sensors, Samsung holds less than 20% of the market, while Sony stays on top. This performance review aims to spot weaknesses in Samsung’s tech and choices. By figuring out what’s going wrong, the company hopes to get back on track and compete better.
