Exynos 2200 vs Snapdragon 8 Gen 1: Has Samsung Outdone Qualcomm?

Last year, we extensively compared Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 and A15 Bionic to determine if Qualcomm could outperform Apple in the silicon game. Samsung has now unveiled its Exynos 2200 chipset,

Exynos 2200 vs Snapdragon 8 Gen 1: A Comprehensive Comparison (2022)

Delve into this detailed comparison covering CPU architecture, benchmark numbers for Exynos 2200 and Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, the performance of AMD Xclipse 920 GPU versus Adreno GPU, and more. Expand the table below to navigate to the desired section.

Exynos 2200 vs Snapdragon 8 Gen 1: Specifications

Review the specifications of Exynos 2200 and Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 below.

Exynos 2200	Snapdragon 8 Gen 1
CPU	Octa-core CPU, ARMv9
CPU Cores	1x 2.80GHz (Cortex-X2) 3x 2.52GHz (Cortex-A710) 4x 1.82GHz (Cortex-A510) [Via Geekbench]
Process Technology	Samsung’s 4nm EUV
GPU	Samsung Xclipse 920 GPU
Display	4K at 120Hz, QHD+ at 144Hz
Machine Learning and AI	AI Engine with Dual-core NPU and DSP
ISP	Samsung-designed ISP
Camera Capability	Up to 200MP single-camera, 108MP @30fps, Dual-camera 64MP+32MP @30fps
Video Capability	8K decoding: 60fps with 10-bit HEVC(H.265), 30fps with 10-bit VP9, AV1 8K encoding: 30fps with 10-bit HEVC(H.265), VP9
Modem	Exynos’ Integrated 5G Modem, 7.35 Gbps Peak Download, 3.67 Gbps Peak Upload
WiFi Support	Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 6E
Bluetooth	Bluetooth 5.2

Exynos 2200 vs Snapdragon 8 Gen 1: CPU

Exynos 2200 and Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 share identical CPU architecture, core selection, and fabrication process. Exynos 2200 features an octa-core processor on Samsung’s 4nm EUV process, leveraging ARM’s new ARMv9 architecture.

The Exynos 2200 chipset includes a Cortex-X2 core, three Cortex-A710 cores, and four low-power Cortex-A510 cores. Samsung has not specified the core frequencies, but a recent Geekbench listing revealed them: Cortex-X2 at 2.80GHz, Cortex-A710 at 2.52GHz, and Cortex-A510 at 1.82GHz. These ARM-designed cores succeed the Cortex-X1, A78, and A55 respectively.

The Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 is manufactured by Samsung’s foundry using the 4nm EUV process and features the new ARMv9 microarchitecture. Its core lineup mirrors the Exynos 2200: a single Cortex-X2 core at 3.0GHz (slightly faster than the Exynos 2200), three Cortex-A710 cores at 2.5GHz, and four Cortex-A510 cores at 1.8GHz.

Based on the specifications, the CPU performance of both the Exynos 2200 and Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 appears to be very similar, with neither company making significant changes.

ARM touted that Cortex-X2 will bring a 16% performance improvement over the X1, while A710 and A510 offer 10% and 35% performance boosts over their predecessors. However, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 hasn’t shown a significant overall performance increase, and the Exynos 2200 is expected to deliver a similar level of performance.

Exynos 2200 vs Snapdragon 8 Gen 1: GPU

Recent trends highlight significant advancements in the GPU sector. The Exynos 2200 features the highly-anticipated AMD RDNA 2-powered Xclipse 920 GPU, generating considerable buzz. However, its performance against the new Adreno GPU in the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 remains to be seen. Samsung has revealed limited details about its new GPU, but leaks suggest Samsung utilizes three workgroup processors (equivalent to six compute units) for its design.

Surprisingly, the Geekbench OpenCL compute test reveals the Xclipse GPU has a maximum frequency of 555MHz, remarkably low. This might be a reporting error, as Samsung has yet to clarify the GPU’s clock speed. Samsung claims its GPU can support a 4K display at 120Hz and a QHD+ display at 144Hz, which is impressive.

The Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 features a new Adreno GPU with Snapdragon Elite Gaming support, capable of driving a QHD+ display at 144Hz and a 4K display at 60Hz. However, Samsung’s Xclipse 920 GPU outperforms the Adreno GPU. In graphics-intensive tests, the Exynos 2200 scored 109FPS in the GFXBench Aztec Ruins (Normal) test, while the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 achieved a higher 143 FPS.

In the Geekbench OpenCL benchmark, Exynos 2200 scored 9143 points, surpassing Adreno GPU’s 6050 points. Similarly, in the Vulkan API test, the Exynos 2200’s Xclipse 920 GPU (9143) outpaced the Adreno GPU (7285).

While these benchmarks highlight the Exynos 2200’s strong performance, determining the superior GPU remains inconclusive. Real-world gaming tests will reveal which offers better thermal management and sustained gaming performance.

Exynos 2200 vs Snapdragon 8 Gen 1: Benchmark Numbers

For a performance comparison, consider the benchmark results of Exynos 2200 and Snapdragon 8 Gen 1. A leaked Geekbench listing shows Exynos 2200 scoring 1164 in single-core and 3576 in multi-core tests. We tested the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 SoC on Xiaomi 12 Pro, achieving 1165 and 3664 in single-core and multi-core tests. However, throttling issues were observed on the Xiaomi 12 Pro.

Exynos 2200 Geekbench Score

It appears the CPU in Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 slightly outperforms the Exynos 2200. Samsung may have reduced the Exynos 2200’s clock speed to avoid throttling and thermal issues seen in Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 phones, aiming for smoother performance without compromising battery life.

In the AnTuTu 9 test, considering GPU performance, Exynos 2200 scored 965,874, while Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 scored 969,966. Additionally, Exynos 2200 reached 109FPS in the GFXBench Aztec Ruins (Normal) test, compared to Snapdragon 8 Gen 1’s 143 FPS.

In the CPU department, both chipsets are evenly matched, but thermal performance must also be considered. Regarding the GPU, Samsung’s new Xclipse 920 GPU appears superior to the Andreno GPU on Snapdragon 8 Gen 1. However, a final verdict requires testing thermal performance and playing intensive games.

Exynos 2200 vs Snapdragon 8 Gen 1: ISP

The Exynos 2200 features a Samsung-designed ISP capable of capturing still images up to 200MP in single-camera mode and recording videos up to 108MP at 30FPS. In a dual-camera setup, it can simultaneously capture 64MP stills and 32MP videos at 30FPS. For video recording, the Exynos 2200 can record 8K videos at 30FPS and 4K videos at 120FPS with HDR10 and HDR10+ support.

On the other hand, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 features a redesigned 18-bit ISP with Snapdragon Sight support. Enhancing its triple-ISP architecture, this ISP captures 3.2 Gigapixels per second, records 8K HDR video at 30FPS, and can simultaneously capture 64MP images. Additionally, Snapdragon offers features like the Bokeh engine, 18-bit RAW footage shooting, and AI-based facial detection.

Both ISPs are capable, and OEMs will determine the quality of the camera experience by leveraging these technologies. Samsung, known for its excellent camera performance, excels due to its control over both the ISP and software stack.

Exynos 2200 vs Snapdragon 8 Gen 1: AI and ML

Regarding AI and ML performance, the Exynos 2200 boasts a dedicated AI engine with dual-core NPU (Neural Processing Unit) and DSP (Digital Signal Processor). Samsung reports its AI performance is 2x better than the Exynos 2100. The Exynos 2200 chipset also offers “higher precision with FP16 support” along with power-efficient INT8 and INT16.

Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 features the latest 7th-gen AI Engine, capable of 27 trillion operations per second (TOPS). It includes the 3rd-gen Sensing Hub for instant voice pickup and noise cancellation. Qualcomm asserts the 7th-gen AI Engine is 4x more potent than the Snapdragon 888. For a detailed comparison between Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 and Snapdragon 888, read our analysis.

Exynos 2200 vs Snapdragon 8 Gen 1: Modem and Wireless Connectivity

Discussing connectivity options on both chipsets, the Exynos 2200 features an integrated 5G modem with speeds up to 7.35Gbps download and 3.67Gbps upload. It handles both mmWave and sub-6GHz 5G bands and supports Carrier Aggregation. Samsung’s innovation allows the modem to reach speeds of up to 10Gbps by utilizing 4G and 5G bands. For wireless, the Exynos 2200 offers Wi-Fi 6, 6E, and Bluetooth 5.2.

Moving to the modem on the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, it features the Snapdragon X65 5G integrated modem with download speeds up to 10Gbps, supporting both premium mmWave and mid-tier sub-6GHz 5G bands. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 also includes the FastConnect Subsystem 6900, offering Wi-Fi 6, Wi-Fi 6E, and Bluetooth 5.2 support.

Qualcomm adds Bluetooth LE for low-power consumption and provides CD-quality Lossless Audio over Bluetooth. In modem and wireless connectivity, Qualcomm’s flagship chipset surpasses Samsung’s Exynos 2200.

Exynos 2200 vs. Snapdragon 8 Gen 1: The Winner

This concludes our comparison between Exynos 2200 and Snapdragon 8 Gen 1. Except for the GPU, both processors deliver an identical user experience. I’m eager to test Samsung’s GPU thermal management optimization on the Exynos 2200 with its new AMD-powered GPU. Stay tuned to find out the winner between Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 and Dimensity 9000 in our linked article. Feel free to drop any questions in the comments below.