Samsung Galaxy S8 Exynos Processor Sale Blocked By Qualcomm: Report

The Samsung Exynos processors have been exclusive to the company’s devices until now, but the company had recently planned to sell them other smartphone manufacturers. However, the plans were quashed by Qualcomm, which manufactures Snapdragon processors that power the Galaxy S and Galaxy Note series.

Read: Samsung Galaxy S8, 7 Other Devices Expected To Come Out With Snapdragon 835

Both the processors would be the first 10nm technology-based smartphone processors. The companies claim the new processors will provide 27 percent better performance and 40 percent lower power consumption than the current 14nm technology-based processors such as the Qualcomm Snapdragon 821 and Exynos 8890.

Samsung generally comes out with both Exynos and Snapdragon versions of its leading smartphones. For the Galaxy S8, the company has two available processors, both based on 10nm processor technology — the Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 and Exynos 8895. According to the Korea Economic Daily, Qualcomm blocked to sale to protect the FinFET technology developed jointly by both companies. The report further says Qualcomm abused the “standard essential patent” license to prevent Samsung from selling its modems and chipsets for 25 years.

Read: Snapdragon 835 announced With 10nm Processor Technology

Qualcomm is already being sued for unfair trade practices by the Japan Fair Trade Commission. The Fair Trade Commission of South Korea, meanwhile, said in its verdict in a case against Qualcomm: “Samsung Electronics has been blocked from selling its modem chipsets to other smartphone manufacturers due to a license deal it signed with Qualcomm."

The South Korean commission also fined Qualcomm $873 million, concluding that the company used its market position in the country unfairly by refusing to grant other chipset manufacturers licenses and also demanding high fees for the use of its patents by other manufacturers. Qualcomm has appealed the decision and also filed an application for a stay on the matter.