Samsung’s new processor brings 5G to mid-range phones

Samsung unveiled the first mobile processor which combines a 5G modem and processor into a single chip and is called the Exynos 980.

To date, a second chip is needed for the 5G modem alongside the processor chip, while the new model paves the way for more compact designs and higher battery life.

Exynos 980 promises gigabit speeds on 4G LTE and up to 2.55Gbps on 5G network and 6Ghz frequency. The processor also offers support for the new Wi-Fi 6 IEEE 802.11ax standard.

Inside features two Cortex-A77 cores and six Cortex-A55 cores combined with Mali-G76 graphics for video games and added reality experiences. The processor even has a built-in neural unit (NPU) which means that tasks related to artificial intelligence can be processed on the device rather than sent to a server.

Samsung says the Exynos 980 NPU is 2.7 times faster than its predecessor. Finally comes with an image processor that can process up to 108 million pixels and five individual camera sensors.

This is a big step for Samsung and the industry. While 5G is tomorrow’s standard, people expect more and more speed and performance from phones every day. Of course 5G faces other challenges such as coverage, security but also the equipment available to utilize it.