Samsung's chipset division has been through a rough patch over the past couple of years, but the company's in-house mobile chipset is undergoing massive changes in hopes of greener pastures. After months of leaks and speculations, Samsung declared earlier today that “Playtime is over” and unveiled the new Exynos 2200 mobile chipset with AMD graphics.
As you probably heard by now, Samsung manufactured the Exynos 2200 SoC on a 4nm EUV process. The chipset has a tri-cluster octa-core CPU configuration which is impressive in its own right, but the highlight is the new AMD RDNA2-based Xclipse 920 GPU. Especially since GPU performance has been a weak point in Samsung's prior Exynos chipsets.
The new GPU offers hardware-based ray-tracing and VRS (Variable Rate Shading). It claims to deliver console-quality graphics on mobile, but it's not like we haven't heard the mobile industry make this claim a million times before. This time, however, we're talking about AMD — a company known for high-end desktop GPUs, among other things — so maybe the Exynos 2200 really is something special.
The trailer that's supposed to generate hype around the Exynos 2200 surely captivates the viewer's attention with 3D renders of Sci-Fi bars and alien creatures, and it all seems very promising. Maybe even too good to be true because, well, it's an ad, and that's what ads usually do.
I hate to say this, but I'm skeptical about the Exynos 2200's performance
The Exynos 2200 unveiling didn't inspire much hope, in my eyes. And, to be clear, the “Playtime is over” video that Samsung unveiled earlier today isn't representative of the Exynos 2200 GPU's actual capabilities, so it's not the crux of my skepticism. The video is just a CGI sequence meant to promote the chipset.
No, the trailer, or the amount of money Samsung spent to produce it isn't what worries me at all. What does, however, is the lack of information surrounding this brand-new SoC. Is this the calm before the storm? Or is it the silence preceding nothing spectacular?
Earlier today, Samsung briefly talked about the chipset's specifications, the AMD collaboration, and the manufacturing process. But unlike in previous years, the company didn't reveal any frequencies or other bits of information that Exynos fans who have been waiting for a revolution could enjoy.
Exact CPU frequencies are unknown, and the AMD RDNA2-based Xclipse 920 GPU remains largely a mystery, save for a few known technologies. For a chipset that's supposed to challenge everything the mobile market has to offer, Samsung's oddly quiet. And, look, I realize how this may come across as nitpicking, so if you can be excited about the Exynos 2200 reveal, then, by all means, celebrate. We all probably need more reasons to be cheerful these days.
However, as far as my realistic expectations go, I've seen enough press releases over the years to know that a company like Samsung will take every opportunity it gets to highlight how well it does over the competition. But disconcerting as it is, Samsung didn't discuss much about real performance figures and CPU/GPU frequencies at the Exynos 2200 unveiling. And, as of this writing, the official Exynos 2200 landing page doesn't divulge this information either.
Needless to say, Samsung didn't talk enough about pure hardware specs and performance levels to inspire confidence. And as much as I'm hoping for the Exynos 2200 to wipe the floor with its competitors — I mean, Samsung's mobile division could really use a break — as a customer, I think it's wiser for me to manage my expectations for the time being and don't put all my chips on the Exynos 2200's success. I sure hope Samsung proves me wrong, though.
What's your stance on the Exynos 2200 unveiling? Do you think Samsung is on the right track, or are you on the fence regarding the capabilities of the final product? Feel free to join us on social media and the comment section below.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xeAxDgfat0M
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