The Galaxy S6 has long been rumored to pack a special new octa-core processor, the Exynos 7420, that not only will bring 64-bit support, but also offer even better efficiency and performance thanks to a new technology used to build it. Samsung on Monday announced that it is now mass-producing the chip, revealing more details about it and offering hints at what one critical iPhone 6s component might offer later this year.
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In its blog post, Samsung doesn’t mention the Exynos 7420 processor specifically, but it does detail the 14nm FinFET technology used to build it, saying the Exynos 7 is industry’s first mobile processor to use the tech.
Anyone who follows mobile-related developments with some regularity will remember that Samsung was rumored more than once to be the chosen chip maker for Apple’s upcoming line of iPhone models, as the company is also interested in moving to 14nm process technology.
“As the most advanced technology available today, 14nm FinFET process is able to achieve the highest levels of efficiency, performance and productivity,” Samsung writes. “When compared to Samsung’s 20nm process technology, this newest process enables up to 20 percent faster speed, 35 percent less power consumption and 30 percent productivity gain.”
Apple’s latest generation of mobile processors, the A8 in the iPhone 6 models, is also built on 20nm technology. A 14nm FinFET A9 processor should also significantly faster and more efficient, allowing Apple to potentially increase iPhone and iPad performance without sacrificing battery life.
Samsung said that the 14nm FinFET process will be adopted by the Exynos 7 Octa — which is supposed to be included in the Galaxy S6 and the Galaxy S6 Edge — and then “expanded to other products throughout the year,” without naming any of its potential customers for the new tech.
