Samsung Electronics is adjusting its mobile processor strategy for its upcoming mid-range smartphone lineup. According to a report from ZDNET Korea, the South Korean tech giant plans to equip the upcoming Galaxy A18 5G with a Qualcomm Snapdragon SoC, marking a departure from the in-house Exynos chip featured in last year’s Galaxy A17 5G.
Conversely, the Galaxy A18 4G variant is expected to retain a MediaTek processor, continuing the hardware direction of its predecessor, the Galaxy A18 4G, which utilized the MediaTek Helio G99.
Production Timeline and Volume Estimates
Component mass production for the Galaxy A18 4G is reportedly already underway ahead of its scheduled rollout later this year. Assembly of the finished 4G handsets is projected to begin in August, with initial monthly manufacturing targets structured as follows:
- August: 100,000 units
- September: 2.4 million units
- October: 2.5 million units
Production schedules for the Galaxy A18 5G are slated to begin shortly, aligned with Qualcomm’s chip delivery timeline. Industry observers note that these volume plans remain subject to adjustments based on shifting market conditions.
Financial Factors Driving the Component Shift
Industry analysts speculate that the decision by Samsung’s Mobile eXperience (MX) division to bypass the System LSI division’s Exynos chips for both A18 models is primarily driven by cost management. A recent surge in memory semiconductor prices has pressured smartphone manufacturers to find alternative savings to curb rising bills of materials (BOM).
This macroeconomic pressure is not unique to Samsung. Chinese smartphone manufacturers, who command a large share of the budget and mid-range market, have reportedly scaled back their business outlooks, creating a ripple effect that has impacted chip suppliers like MediaTek.
By opting for external vendors for the Galaxy A18 series, Samsung’s MX division highlights a growing trend of prioritizing cost efficiency and supply chain readiness over internal component synergy in competitive mid-range segments.