Samsung Electronics, a world leader in advanced semiconductor technology, today announced the availability of its latest application processor (AP), the Exynos 7 Series 9610. The Exynos 9610, built on Samsung’s 10-nanometer (nm) FinFET process, elevates the multimedia experience in high-end smartphones with premium-level features such as deep learning-based image processing for ultimate picture-taking experiences and stunning slow motion video recording at 480 frames per second (fps).

“The Exynos 7 Series 9610 is our latest mobile processor that delivers on added power and speed,” said Ben Hur, vice president of System LSI marketing at Samsung Electronics. “But more importantly, it sets a new performance standard for high-end devices with its deep learning vision-image processing solution and slow motion video capabilities that change the way we engage with our mobile devices.”

For more enriched photo-taking and filming experiences, the Exynos 9610 delivers a major boost in multimedia performance. Vision and image processing is now coupled with a neural network engine for more intelligently enhanced face detection, as well as single camera out-focusing and augmented low-light images. The advanced face detection feature enables the camera to recognize faces that are either not facing forward or partially covered with objects like hair or a hat. With smart depth sensing, bokeh or out-focused portraits can be taken with a single camera. Through cleverly merging multiple frames, vision and image processing enhances the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and brightness that can improve pictures taken in low-light environments.

The Exynos 9610 also allows for 480fps slow-motion support in full HD. Even while using a conventional two-stack image sensor, the Exynos 9610 is able to encode slow-motion video, thanks to its image signal processor (ISP) with improved performance by 1.6 times and more-than-doubled mobile industry processor interface (MIPI) speed. In addition, the processor uses a premium multi-format codec (MFC) that allows encoding and decoding up to 4K 120fps.

With its powerful CPU and GPU, the Exynos 9610 provides smooth mobile computing and gaming performances that meet the needs of today’s high-end smartphones .The CPU is comprised of four Cortex-A73 cores running at 2.3 gigahertz (GHz), and four 1.6GHz Cortex-A53 cores to load apps quickly and run multiple tasks simultaneously. The GPU is a second-generation Bifrost-based ARM Mali-G72 that can bring more realistic and immersive graphics on mobile devices.

Always-on sensing applications that require instant feedback, such as gesture recognition or context awareness, are enabled by an embedded Cortex-M4F-based low-power sensor hub, which efficiently manages the sensors in real-time without waking the main processor.

For always connected and seamless mobile broadband connection, the embedded all-network LTE modem supports Cat.12 3CA (carrier aggregation) at 600 megabits per second (Mbps) for downlink and Cat.13 2CA at 150Mbps for uplink. The processor is also packed with wireless communication technologies such as high-throughput 802.11ac 2×2 MIMO Wi-Fi, faster and longer range Bluetooth 5.0, and FM for radio. In addition, for global location positioning coverage, it embeds a 4-mode Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) receiver that includes GPS (Global Positioning System), GLONASS, BeiDou and Galileo.

The Exynos 7 Series 9610 is expected to be mass produced in the second half of this year.

For more information about Samsung’s Exynos products, please visit http://www.samsung.com/exynos.

Using 7LPP EUV process technology, Snapdragon 5G mobile chipsets will offer a smaller chip footprint, giving OEMs more usable space inside upcoming products to support larger batteries or slimmer designs. Process improvements, combined with a more advanced chip design, are expected to bring significant improvements in battery life.

Last May, Samsung introduced 7LPP EUV, its first semiconductor process technology to use an EUV lithography solution. It is anticipated that EUV lithography deployment will break the barriers of Moore’s law scaling, paving the way for single nanometer semiconductor technology generations.

Compared with its 10nm FinFET predecessors, Samsung’s 7LPP EUV technology not only greatly reduces the process complexity with fewer process steps and better yield, but also allows up to a 40 percent increase in area efficiency with 10 percent higher performance or up to 35 percent lower power consumption.

“We are excited to lead the 5G mobile industry together with Samsung,” said RK Chunduru, senior vice president, supply chain and procurement, Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. “Using 7nm LPP EUV, our new generation of Snapdragon 5G mobile chipsets will take advantage of the process improvements and advanced chip design to improve the user experience of future devices.”

“We are pleased to continue to expand our foundry relationship with Qualcomm Technologies in 5G technologies using our EUV process technology,” said Charlie Bae, Executive Vice President of Foundry Sales and Marketing Team at Samsung Electronics. “This collaboration is an important milestone for our foundry business as it signifies confidence in Samsung’s leading process technology.”

Samsung Electronics’ Foundry manufacturing line located in Hwaseong, Korea

10LPP process technology allows up to 10-percent higher performance or 15-percent lower power consumption compared to its first generation 10nm process technology, 10LPE (Low Power Early). As this process is derived from the already proven 10LPE technology, it offers competitive advantages by greatly reducing turn-around time from development to mass production and by providing significantly higher initial manufacturing yield.

SoCs designed with 10LPP process technology will be used in digital devices scheduled to launch early next year and are expected to become more widely available throughout the year.

“We will be able to better serve our customers through the migration from 10LPE to 10LPP with improved performance and higher initial yield,” said Ryan Lee, vice president of Foundry Marketing at Samsung Electronics. “Samsung with its long-living 10nm process strategy will continue to work on the evolution of 10nm technology down to 8LPP to offer customers distinct competitive advantages for a wide range of applications.”

Samsung also announced that its newest manufacturing line, S3, located in Hwaseong, Korea, is ready to ramp up production of process technologies including 10nm and below. S3 is the third fab of Samsung’s Foundry Business, following S1 in Giheung, Korea and S2 in Austin, USA. Samsung’s 7nm FinFET process technology with EUV (Extreme Ultra Violet) will also be mass produced at S3.

Samsung Electronics’ S3 manufacturing line located in Hwaseong, Korea