El Samsung Galaxy S5 It would be the new flagship of the South Korean company that they would launch next year. We know little specifically about this, but we are already starting to find out what its processor will be like, and we have many details about it. It will be a 64-bit Exynos, with architecture Cortex-A50 from ARM.
Exynos processor
To begin with, it must be stated that the new processor would be manufactured by Samsung with the brand Exynos, the same one they currently use to market their high-end processors. This SoC is already in the final development phase, so Samsung could be ready to start manufacturing it very soon, and it wouldn't be surprising if they presented it at the CES, just as they did with the octa-core Exynos at a previous edition of the event.
64-bit processor
One of the most notable features of this processor is that it would be 64 bits. That is to say, it would work with 64-bit computing, just like the new Apple A7 that the iPhone 5s has and that, although it will not bring important improvements in the short term, it will be very important for the future of smartphones, since it will allow a Processing capacity much larger than 32-bit processors. Thus, it is confirmed that the Samsung Galaxy S5 will have a 64-bit processor, as has been rumored in recent weeks since the announcement of the Cupertino company's new smartphone. This is not surprising, since Samsung is the company that manufactures chips for third parties and dominates large-scale production.
This processor will allow the operating system to be 64-bit, but the 32 bit applications, as well as 64-bit versions, work without any problems. This is obvious and necessary, but it had to be confirmed.
Cortex-A50
Another of the most notable features of this new Exynos is that it will have ARM architecture, and it won't be Cortex-A5, Cortex-A7, Cortex-A9, or Cortex-A15. We're talking about an architecture Cortex-A50, so it's a processor with a very innovative ARM architecture. It will also have two processors, just like the previous Exynos.
Big.LITTLE technology
And those two processors will work thanks to the technology big.LITTLE, which allows a SoC to be composed of two processors that work alternately. Each of the smartphone's processors will have different characteristics. One of the processors, the most powerful of all, is the one with architecture Cortex-A57, within the Cortex-A50 series. This processor is theoretically capable of delivering three times the performance of current high-end smartphones while maintaining the same power consumption. The other processor will use the Cortex-A50 architecture. Cortex-A53, also within the Cortex-A50 series. This processor has slightly higher performance than today's processors, but stands out for its energy consumption that's four times more efficient, so it runs cooler and also consumes less battery. It's the most efficient processor ARM has ever created.
Could be six core
The biggest news is that the processor could be six cores, instead of being eight-core. This would all be due to the fact that the performance of these processors would be much higher than that of current processors, and the new Cortex-A57 processor does not require a large number of cores to operate individually. The Cortex-A57 would be dual-core, while the Cortex-A53 would be quad-core. However, we also cannot rule out the arrangement of eight cores, since it is the model they would use for tablets, and it would not be strange for Samsung to bet on this for its flagship, as long as they are able to solve all the space problems and heat generated. Regarding this, the best thing about the Cortex-A53 processor compared to the Cortex-A9 (the low-power processors of the Galaxy S5 and Galaxy S4, respectively), is that it is four times faster. little. Four Cortex-A53s fit in the space of a Cortex-A9, as they were manufactured with technology 20 nanometersOf course, this solves many heat issues. Smaller size means less heat generated. In turn, it's possible to create different core combinations with this processor, as its size allows for many possible builds.
The launch of the Samsung Galaxy S5 would be in spring, so we'll still have to wait a bit, but we can definitely expect it to be a great smartphone if it has this processor.
Real-life SoC variants in the Galaxy S5
Although the roadmap indicated a jump to 64-bit, commercial units of the Galaxy S5 combined two platforms depending on the market: Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 (Krait 400, 32-bit, up to 2,5 GHz) with GPU Adreno 330, and a variant Samsung Exynos 5422 (big.LITTLE A15/A7, 32bit) with GPU Mali‑T628 MP6In both cases, 2 GB of data was used. RAM LPDDR3 in dual channel and storage of 16 / 32 GB expandable via microSD. This combination prioritized the stability of the Android ecosystem at the time, maintaining full app compatibility and low power consumption.
The performance approach was pragmatic: day-to-day experience resulted in fluid, with capable multitasking and a capable graphics boost for demanding games. The 28nm SoCs, along with Samsung's software optimizations, offered a very solid balance between power and autonomy, even in the face of direct rivals.
SuperAMOLED display and energy efficiency
The Galaxy S5 mounted a panel 5,1-inch SuperAMOLED with resolution 1080p and density of 432 dpi. With the matrix Diamond, color reproduction was better controlled: intense colors without excessive oversaturation and a contrast Outstanding. Exterior visibility is significantly improved thanks to high automatic peak brightness and exceptionally low minimum brightness, ideal for nighttime use.
According to the manufacturer's data, the organic materials of this generation reduce the best before date compared to its predecessor by around 30%. In practice, the panel clearly helped extend the battery life, especially with dark backgrounds that take advantage of the intrinsic advantages of OLED.
Camera: ISOCELL sensor, PDAF and UHD video
One of the most visible leaps came in photography. The S5 debuted its own sensor. ISOCELL de 16 SM (1/2,6″, pixel 1,12 µm) with f/2.2 lens, phase detection autofocus (PDAF) very fast and recording UHD 4K. The response is agile, especially in well-lit scenes, and the mode HDR with preview in real time facilitates high dynamic range compositions without trial/error.
Functions such as the Selective Focus allow you to simulate background blur with convincing results in close-ups. In low-light situations, the performance is adequate for its generation, with improvements over the previous model and the possibility of resorting to night modes specific. In video, in addition to 4K, it offers slow motion and effective digital stabilization.
Connectivity, autonomy and saving modes
The device arrives well served: LTE Cat.4, NFC, WiFi 802.11ac, Bluetooth 4.0 LE, USB 3.0, infrared to control televisions, and compatibility ANT + for sports accessories. The function Download Booster adds WiFi and LTE to accelerate downloads when the network allows, a clear nod to mobile productivity.
With a battery of 2.800 mAh, the daily autonomy is comfortable even for intensive users. The modes of Saving y Ultra Savings They reduce consumption by converting the screen to grayscale, limiting background processes, and limiting connectivity when not in use. This approach, combined with the panel's efficiency, significantly extends the time away from the outlet.
Design, IP67 resistance and sensors
Samsung opted for a chassis of polycarbonate with removable back cover, allowing change battery with ease. The certification IP67 It provides dust resistance and water protection in accidental situations (up to 1 meter and 30 minutes), always with the lids tightly sealed. All this without compromising the weight, which remains contained.
In biometrics, the reader of footprints It integrates into the home button with swipe reading and support for payment authentication (like PayPal at the time). pulsometer integrates with S Health to track basic activity metrics, supported by software features such as Toolbox or Multi-window to work with two apps in parallel.
What 64-bit architecture brings to the ecosystem
Beyond the final implementation in S5, the transition to ARMv8‑A 64-bit with nuclei Cortex-A57/A53 lays the foundation for mobile evolution. It enables wider memory addressing, improvements in safety and instructions (e.g., cryptography and multimedia) and a long-term efficiency leap. Support for 32-bit apps is guaranteed, ensuring gradual, frictionless adoption for the user.
Thermal management and integration density
The leap to processes such as 20 nm allows to increase the Density (more cores in less space) and reduce heat. The fact that four Cortex-A53s fit into the space of one Cortex-A9 illustrates how miniaturization opens up flexible big.LITTLE combinations (2+4, 4+4, etc.) with the thermal headroom to maintain sustained frequencies without throttling.
In everyday use, this translates into greater stability under load (gaming, 4K recording, intensive browsing) and lower perceived temperature, also extending battery life by avoiding unnecessary consumption peaks.
The Galaxy S5 remains a benchmark for its combination of solid performance, efficient screen, versatile camera and a very complete set of connectivity and sensors, while the path to 64 bits described here marked the technological direction that would consolidate the next generation of mobile platforms.
