Samsung Exynos 880: 8 nm SoC with integrated 5G modem for the Vivo Y70s

8nm Exynos 880

The Exynos 880 SoC (System on Chip) is made using the power-efficient 8nm FinFET process from Samsung

Samsung is re-launching the Exynos 980 in a slightly weaker version under the name Exynos 880 and is selling the system-on-a-chip first to Vivo, which has introduced the Y70s equipped with it in China. The Exynos 880 relies on lower clock rates and is equipped with a less powerful image processor.

The first Exynos Soc with integrated 5G modem receives a smaller offshoot with the Exynos 880. Once again, Samsung relies on ARM rods for the CPU, more precisely two Cortex-A77 and six Cortex-A55. In contrast to the Exynos 980, the two larger cores can only clock at a maximum of 2.0 instead of 2.2 Ghz. The six Cortex A55, on the other hand, leaves Samsung with the well-known 1.8 Ghz.

Samsung reduces maximum resolution

Less GPU performance is not to be feared at first glance. With the Mali-G76 MP5, the same graphics unit as in the larger Exynos 980 is installed, according to the name, but under some circumstances Samsung has adjusted the clock rate. The image can be output on displays with a maximum of 2,520 1,080 pixels, with Exynos 980 up to 3,360 1,440 pixels were still allowed.

Exynos 880 with integrated 5G modem

Apart from the CPU, the data sheet of the chip also shows changes to the image processor (ISP). The Exynos 880 Samsung expects a maximum resolution of 64 megapixels or twice 20 megapixels with a dual camera. On the Exynos 980, however, up to 108 megapixels can be controlled on one sensor. Samsung also used the red pencil for video recordings and reduced the 4K encoding and decoding from 120 FPS to 30 FPS.

Integrated 5G modem for sub-6 Ghz

The other key data of the Exynos 880 match those of the Exynos 980. This includes manufacturing in our own 8 nm Finfet process, which does not require EUV lithography. One of the most important features of the chip is the integrated 5G modem of Samsung’s own Shannon modem family. For Samsung and Qualcomm’s high-end Socs, the 5G multi-mode modem is outsourced to a second chip, but is more powerful in return. With the Exynos 980/880 or Snapdragon 765(G) this is not necessary with less power and without mmWave. In the Exynos 880, 5G is enabled in the sub-6 Ghz range with up to 2.55 Gbit/s in the downlink and up to 1.28 Gbit/s in the uplink, while LTE Advanced Pro works with up to 1 Gbit/s in the downlink and up to 200 Mbit/s in the uplink.

First use in Vivo Y70s

Samsung introduced the Exynos 880 shortly before the announcement of the Vivo Y70s. The 5G mid-range smartphone presented today in China costs 260 euros with 6 GB RAM, 128 GB memory and 20 euros more with 8 GB RAM and 128 GB memory.