Samsung to revive Exynos, Ballie via continuous updates

[Courtesy of Samsung Electronics]

Samsung Electronics successfully revived its Exynos lineup with the introduction of the Exynos 2400 in the Galaxy S24. According to industry reports on Tuesday, the upgraded Exynos has exceeded expectations and is receiving accolades for its impressive performance.

The Exynos 2400, the smartphone’s brain, boasts a 1.7 times improvement in central processing unit (CPU) performance and a 14.7 times enhancement in artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities compared to its predecessor.

Overseas IT media outlets noted in their analyses of Exynos 2400’s processor that it exhibits a performance difference of less than 10 percent compared to Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 SoC used in Galaxy devices.

Samsung was criticized when it equipped the Galaxy S22 series with the Exynos 2200, which led to controversies surrounding overheating and performance issues. Following this experience, the Galaxy S23 did not feature the Exynos 2200 in a setback for the Korean chipmaker.

The introduction of the Exynos 2400 is expected to reestablish Samsung’s presence in the application processor (AP) market. According to market tracker Counterpoint Research, Samsung’s mobile AP market share dropped to around 5 percent in the third quarter of 2023, down from 8 percent in 2022.

In addition to the Exynos 2400, Samsung is preparing for the revival of its AI assistant, ‘Ballie.’ The upgraded version of Ballie, first unveiled in 2020, is set to be released later in 2024.

Ballie, resembling a ball, responds to user calls via autonomous navigation, executing voice commands without the need for a separate controller. Equipped with cameras both on the front and rear, it automatically recognizes and connects with home appliances linked to Samsung’s SmartThings, quickly setting up an Internet of Things (IoT) environment.

Ballie faced challenges following its initial introduction, lacking clear applications beyond being a “conversation companion.” But a dramatic comeback became feasible as consumer demand for mobile screens grew quickly. To enhance its capabilities, Samsung incorporated dual-lens projector technology, enabling Ballie to project information or video content onto walls, ceilings, and floors.

Ballie’s return also signals a revival for Samsung’s proprietary operating system, Tizen. Samsung is integrating Tizen into Ballie after it was phased out from smartphones from the Samsung Z4 onwards in 2017 and has not been included in smartwatches since 2021.

Tizen has continuously improved its performance, particularly excelling in robust security for seamless connectivity. With the incorporation of Samsung Knox, Tizen automatically blocks external hacking attempts, malicious apps, and phishing sites and Ballie’s adoption of Tizen is expected to breathe new life into the Tizen ecosystem, fostering synergy among products using the OS. As Ballie reinvigorates Tizen, it is anticipated that the OS market share, currently at 0.4 percent, will rise and prove the system’s potential again.