Samsung Exynos 980
Samsung Exynos 980: Balancing Performance and Affordability in the 5G Era
April 2025
Introduction
In the world of mobile processors, competition is fierce: each year, new chips emerge, promising revolutionary speed and energy efficiency. However, not all users are willing to pay for top-tier solutions. Samsung Exynos 980, introduced back in 2019, remains a popular choice for mid-range smartphones. In this article, we will explore why this processor is still relevant in 2025, what tasks it can handle, and who it is suitable for.
1. Architecture and Process Technology: The Foundation of Stability
The Exynos 980 is built on a 8nm process technology, which in 2025 is no longer considered cutting-edge (leading manufacturers have transitioned to 4nm and 3nm nodes). Nevertheless, this technology provides a reasonable balance between performance and power consumption.
CPU:
- 8 cores with a hybrid architecture:
- 2 high-performance Cortex-A77 cores at 2.2 GHz for resource-intensive tasks.
- 6 power-efficient Cortex-A55 cores at 1.8 GHz for background processes.
This configuration allows for efficient workload distribution, conserving battery power.
GPU:
- The Mali-G76 MP5 graphics accelerator supports Vulkan 1.1, OpenGL ES 3.2, and contemporary rendering standards. It is optimized for gaming at resolutions up to Full HD+ and for video processing in 4K.
Features:
- Support for LPDDR4X RAM (up to 8GB) and UFS 2.1/UFS 3.0 for fast app loading.
- An NPU (Neural Processing Unit) to accelerate AI tasks, such as scene recognition in the camera.
2. Performance in Real-World Tasks: What Can the Exynos 980 Do?
Gaming:
- The Mali-G76 MP5 is capable of handling most mobile games at medium settings. For example, Genshin Impact runs at 30-40 FPS at 720p resolution, but in Ultra HD mode, frame rates can drop to 20-25 FPS. Casual games like Candy Crush or Among Us pose no problems.
Multimedia:
- The chip can decode video at 4K@120 FPS and encode at 4K@30 FPS. HDR10+ support ensures vibrant colors when viewing content on OLED screens.
AI Applications:
- The NPU accelerates functions like real-time background blurring, automatic adjustment of shooting parameters, and voice assistants. For instance, photo processing in Google Photos takes 15-20% less time compared to chips without an AI block.
Power Consumption and Heating:
- With a TDP of 9W and an 8nm process, the smartphone can operate for up to 6-7 hours under active use (gaming, streaming). Extended heavy loads may cause temperatures to rise to 42-45°C, necessitating passive cooling (copper pipes or graphite film within the casing).
3. Built-in Modules: The Future of Connectivity is Here
- 5G Modem: The integrated Exynos 5123 supports Sub-6 GHz networks (speeds up to 2.55 Gbit/s) and 4G LTE (up to 1.6 Gbit/s). By 2025, this is sufficient for stable connections in urban areas, although mmWave (millimeter waves) is not supported.
- Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax): Speeds of up to 1.2 Gbit/s and improved stability in multi-user scenarios.
- Bluetooth 5.2: Support for dual pairing, low energy consumption for wearable devices.
- Navigation: GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, and BeiDou — the smartphone accurately determines location even in densely built environments.
4. Comparison with Competitors: Where Does Exynos 980 Excel?
- Qualcomm Snapdragon 7 Gen 2: A newer 4nm chip with an Adreno 710 GPU. In Geekbench 6 tests, it scores around 1100 in Single-Core and 2800 in Multi-Core. The Exynos 980 lags behind in gaming performance but is cheaper, as smartphones featuring it start at $300 compared to $450 with Snapdragon.
- MediaTek Dimensity 9000: More powerful in multi-threaded tasks (AnTuTu 10 — around 700,000), but consumes more energy (TDP 12W).
- Apple A14 Bionic: An older yet still relevant chip. It outperforms in Single-Core (1580 points), but Exynos 980 offers a better price-to-performance ratio with 5G support.
Conclusion: The Exynos 980 is a choice for those seeking a balanced processor with 5G capabilities in the budget segment.
5. Use Cases: Who is it Suitable For?
- Gaming: Best suited for casual games. For PUBG Mobile or Call of Duty: Mobile, medium settings will suffice.
- Everyday Tasks: Social media, messengers, streaming — everything runs smoothly without lag.
- Photo and Video: Support for cameras up to 108MP and 4K recording allows content creation for Instagram or YouTube. AI algorithms enhance detail in low-light conditions.
6. Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Integrated 5G modem.
- Good energy efficiency.
- Support for modern communication standards.
Cons:
- The 8nm process lags behind newer chips in performance.
- Mali-G76 MP5 is weaker than competitors' GPUs.
- Limited support for Wi-Fi 6E.
7. Practical Tips: How to Choose a Smartphone with Exynos 980?
- Cooling: Look for models with liquid cooling (for example, Samsung Galaxy A75 5G).
- RAM: At least 6GB for comfortable multitasking.
- Price: As of 2025, devices featuring the Exynos 980 cost $300–$450. Examples:
- Samsung Galaxy A75 5G ($399) — 6.7" AMOLED, 108 MP camera.
- Vivo S16e ($349) — 8GB RAM, 5000 mAh battery.
8. Final Conclusion
The Exynos 980 is an optimal choice for users who:
- Want a smartphone with 5G but are not willing to pay a premium for flagship models.
- Use the device for work, communication, and light gaming.
- Value long battery life.
Key Benefits: Affordable price, support for modern networks, and sufficient performance for most tasks. If you're not a demanding gamer or a professional video editor, the Exynos 980 will be a reliable companion for 2-3 years.
This article is relevant as of April 2025. Prices are listed for new devices.