When it comes to the mobile world, there is no denying that Samsung and Intel are two of the biggest names in electronic products. One of the most recognizable electronics brands in the world, Samsung has been in the consumer electronics industry for decades and has consistently been at the forefront of technology and innovation.
Samsung Electronics is the technology business unit of Samsung Electronics, the world’s largest semiconductor chip maker. Samsung Electronics designs, manufactures and markets mobile devices, semiconductors, digital media, components for other electronics, and systems for information technology. Samsung Electronics’ operations are divided into three regions: the Electronics Division, the Mobile Communications Division and the Digital Media & IT Solutions Group.
Intel is known for making amazing chips for computer makers like Apple, Samsung, and many others. In fact, Intel’s chips power over 80% of the world’s personal computers. On the flip side, Intel also makes smartphone chips, but the relationship between the former and the latter is not so clear. For example, Intel is a potential partner in making Windows phones, but it is also a rival to its own customers.
In the smartphone processor market, Samsung is the reigning champion, having pushed ahead of Intel with its Exynos line of chipsets. Samsung’s Exynos chip, powered by a quad-core application processor and a related Mali GPU, is a flavor of a 15-nanometer process developed by Samsung. One speed bump of a 10-nanometer chip from Intel, the Atom Z3560, would give Samsung a slight edge here.
In what should be a troubling development for competitors like Samsung and Qualcomm, Intel and Samsung have announced a new strategic partnership that will see the two companies collaborate on cross-border chip production. This is part of a larger effort by Intel to reduce dependence on the Korean firm, which produces 65% of its chips, and to become more closely involved in the development tools that are used to design chips. The move appears to have been prompted by Samsung’s recent acquisition of Israeli chip designer Arm.
Samsung is one of the largest smartphone manufacturers in the world, but it seems that Samsung is facing a serious competition not only from other smartphone manufacturers, but also from Intel. Although Samsung has already unveiled its first 10nm chip, Snapdragon 855, Snapdragon 855 is not the only chip being developed by Samsung. As an illustration, Samsung has already developed its own 10nm chip, called Exynos M1, which is designed to be used in commercial products. Intel has also developed its own 10nm chip, called 10nm Ice Lake. There are rumors saying that “Ice Lake” will be used in new Intel products.