Exynos 1610 Offers Powerful Upgrades Beyond Just a Rebranded Exynos 1330 Chip

Samsung recently expanded its affordable smartphone lineup by quietly introducing the Galaxy A18 4G. Although industry leaks and initial reports suggested the device would rely on a MediaTek processor, it is actually driven by an entirely new silicon architecture: the Exynos 1610. While skeptics initially dismissed it as a simple rebrand of the Exynos 1330 stripped of its 5G capabilities, a deeper examination reveals that this new processor brings significant hardware improvements and distinct capabilities to the table.

Detailed device evaluations have shed light on the technical specifications of the unannounced Exynos 1610, internally tracked as the S5E8365. Built upon Samsung Foundry's efficient 5nm (5LPE) fabrication process node, the chip shares its foundational manufacturing bedrock with the Exynos 1330, ensuring a solid balance of power efficiency and processing baseline stability.

Enhanced Graphical Capabilities and Video Processing Performance

Under the hood, the processing cluster pairs two high-performance Cortex-A78 CPU cores clocked at 2.4GHz with six energy-efficient Cortex-A55 CPU cores running at 2.0GHz. The most striking upgrade, however, lies in the graphics processing unit. The Exynos 1610 utilizes a Mali-G68 MP4 configuration featuring four dedicated cores—doubling the core count of the Mali-G68 MP2 found in the Exynos 1330. This hardware boost translates directly into superior rendering speeds and a smoother visual experience in mobile gaming.

Furthermore, storage and memory versatility remain robust, with support for speedy LPDDR4X RAM alongside UFS 2.2 or eMMC 5.1 storage standards. While the implementation inside the Galaxy A18 pairs the processor with the more cost-effective eMMC standard, the underlying silicon holds far greater potential.

Imaging capabilities receive a remarkable upgrade through an advanced image signal processor (ISP) engineered to manage up to 4K video recording at 60 frames per second. Although Samsung restricted this capability on the budget-friendly Galaxy A18—capping video output at Full HD (1080p) at 30fps—the underlying hardware headroom is impressive for an entry-tier device. An upgraded Multimedia Format Codec (MFC) also introduces native VP9 decoding support. The singular drawback in connectivity is the substitution of a 4G modem in place of the 5G modems found in sibling processors like the Exynos 1280 and 1330.

Benchmark Dominance and Sustained Thermal Efficiency

In benchmark evaluations using Geekbench 6, the smartphone achieves single-core CPU scores around 953 and multi-core scores reaching 2,144 points, mirroring the performance profile of the Exynos 1330. However, the system truly shines in graphics-heavy benchmarks, scoring 483,061 points in AnTuTu and an exceptional 1,434 points in the 3DMark Wild Life Extreme test.

Most surprisingly, the Exynos 1610 GPU outpaces even the Exynos 1580's graphics processor in the 3DMark Wild Life Extreme benchmark. Coupled with complete resistance to thermal throttling during extended workloads, it establishes itself as a surprisingly formidable gaming chip within its market segment—particularly given that the Exynos 1580 targets higher-tier mid-range devices. Despite these compelling performance metrics, Samsung has yet to publish an official specification sheet for the Exynos 1610 on its corporate portal.

What processor powers the Galaxy A18 4G?

The Galaxy A18 4G is powered by the newly introduced Exynos 1610 processor rather than a MediaTek chip as previously anticipated.

How does the Exynos 1610 GPU compare to the Exynos 1330?

The Exynos 1610 features a Mali-G68 MP4 GPU with four cores, doubling the core count of the Mali-G68 MP2 found in the Exynos 1330, resulting in significantly better graphics and gaming performance.

Does the Exynos 1610 support 5G connectivity?

No, the Exynos 1610 relies exclusively on a 4G modem, representing a connectivity downgrade compared to its 5G-enabled counterparts like the Exynos 1330 and Exynos 1280.

Can the Exynos 1610 record 4K video?

Yes, the chip houses an upgraded image signal processor capable of recording up to 4K video at 60fps, although device makers may limit this feature based on product positioning.

🔎 Ultimately, the Exynos 1610 proves to be much more than a simple derivative chip stripped of 5G capabilities. By delivering superior graphical rendering, exceptional thermal stability, and high-end video processing potential to more affordable price points, Samsung has crafted a hidden powerhouse that redefines expectations for budget smartphone silicon.