In an unexpected twist to Samsung's upcoming Galaxy S25 series, the South Korean tech giant is rumored to be considering a three-chip strategy for the first time, as reported by Korean news outlet The Financial News. While this rumor should be taken with a grain of salt, it has sparked speculation about the possible introduction of a MediaTek-powered variant alongside Qualcomm's Snapdragon and Samsung's own Exynos chips.

The speculation stems from concerns over the Exynos 2500 chip's production yields, which some rumors suggest may be lower than anticipated. Should this be the case, Samsung would be forced into a two-chip strategy, potentially raising the price of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 chip, which is already expected to be 25-30% pricier than its predecessor.

Bringing MediaTek into the mix could help Samsung maintain a balance of power and prevent Qualcomm from further increasing the price of their Snapdragon chips. The inclusion of MediaTek chips, primarily used in low-cost Samsung phones, would be an unprecedented move for the flagship Galaxy S series.

However, there are potential drawbacks to this strategy. The use of a relatively untested chip brand like MediaTek for the Galaxy S25 flagship variant could pose challenges, as Samsung typically relies on MediaTek chips for budget-friendly devices. Furthermore, managing firmware updates for three different hardware configurations could prove burdensome.

While the rumored three-chip strategy's details are scarce, it is speculated that the MediaTek-powered variant may be limited to certain regions, possibly including China. The rest of the world would likely continue with the familiar Exynos-Qualcomm dual-chip approach.

As the Galaxy S25 series is still months away from its official announcement, this rumor should be approached with caution. There is no concrete evidence to support these claims, and the tech landscape can change significantly in the time leading up to early 2025.

As the industry eagerly awaits further information on Samsung's chipset strategy for the Galaxy S25, it remains to be seen how the company will navigate potential price hikes, chip availability, market demands, and firmware management in the highly competitive smartphone market.