高通芯片，越来越贵了

Core Viewpoint - Samsung Electronics is facing rising costs for mobile application processors (AP) due to reliance on high-priced external APs from Qualcomm, making the performance of its own Exynos processors increasingly critical for future smartphone models [2][3]. Group 1: Cost and Procurement - Samsung's mobile AP procurement costs increased by 29.2% in the first half of the year, reaching 7.7899 trillion KRW compared to 6.0275 trillion KRW in the same period last year [2]. - The proportion of mobile APs in the total raw material procurement of the Device Experience (DX) department rose from 17.1% to 19.9% [2]. - The high-end Galaxy S25 series and Galaxy Z Fold 7 smartphones are equipped with Qualcomm's Snapdragon processors, which are more expensive than Exynos [2]. Group 2: Future Developments - Samsung is developing the next-generation Exynos 2600 using advanced 2nm process technology, which is expected to improve performance and stability [3]. - The evaluation of Exynos 2600 is ongoing, with indications that it may be used in the upcoming Galaxy S26 series [3][4]. - Analysts suggest that the application of Exynos 2600 in flagship models could enhance profitability and competitiveness compared to the current year [4]. Group 3: Market Dynamics - Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 is projected to be 25% to 30% more expensive than its predecessor, with prices expected to range from $190 to $200 [4]. - Qualcomm has requested a price increase of $15 per unit for its APs supplied to Samsung for the next year, raising the cost to approximately $210 per device for Samsung's Galaxy series [4]. - The majority of smartphone components, aside from APs and memory, have not seen significant specification changes in recent years, prompting manufacturers like Samsung and Xiaomi to invest more in self-developed chips [5].