Today, we are seeing reports that Samsung is currently testing the next Galaxy S handset, to put two System-on-Chips (SoC) through their processors. A prototype Galaxy S7, working under the code name of “Jungfrau,” is believed to be being tested in secret with both an Exynos and a Qualcomm SoC, according to a report alleged to be from Korea. Given that we do not expect the next generation Samsung Galaxy S device to be released for at least another seven to eight months, the devices being tested must be early generation models. However, it lends credibility to Samsung’s statements that it went with the Exynos 7420 for the Galaxy S6 rather than the Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 because the designers were going for the best possible hardware for the device.
At this time, it is not clear what particular models and families of processor Samsung may be testing. We have seen rumors that Samsung and Qualcomm are working together for the Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor and perhaps this test is Qualcomm using Samsung’s expertise to fine tune the Snapdragon 820. It may be that Samsung are indeed testing one of their own Exynos processor models and are comparing the model with a Qualcomm Snapdragon peer for comparison purposes. Other rumors are that Samsung will release Exynos-powered Galaxy models for the domestic market but revert back to Qualcomm’s Snapdragon for international models. We cannot even be certain that the model being tested is a prototype of the up and coming Galaxy S7 model.
At this juncture, we have more questions than answers. The Galaxy S6 has only been out for a few months and it seems unlikely that Samsung would release the Galaxy S7 at the end of this year, just a few months after the Galaxy Note 5 is released and so close to the next Apple iPhone release. It is unclear how solid the business relationship is between Samsung and Qualcomm with Samsung directly and indirectly linked to a number of stories regarding the overheating issues of the Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 earlier in the year, but it would seem unlikely that Samsung would stop using Qualcomm System-on-Chips. This is a developing story and we will update readers with news as and when it happens.