Samsung Galaxy Z Flip7 to Launch with Underclocked Exynos 2500: Smart Trade-Off or Risky Gamble?

The upcoming Samsung Galaxy Z Flip7 is shaping up to be a pivotal release—not just for foldables, but for Samsung’s in-house silicon strategy.

Recent Geekbench results from a prototype unit (model SM-F766U) suggest the Flip7 will feature the long-delayed Exynos 2500 chipset, making it one of the most globally deployed Exynos-powered flagships in years.

According to the benchmark, the Flip7 prototype posted a single-core score of 2,012 and a multi-core score of 7,563. That puts its performance closer to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, not the more powerful Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 Elite that the Galaxy S25 series is expected to adopt. The ten-core CPU setup includes one Cortex-X925 at 3.3 GHz, two Cortex-A725 at 2.75 GHz, five Cortex-A725 at 2.36 GHz, and two Cortex-A520 at 1.8 GHz. These clock speeds are notably more conservative than rival chips from Qualcomm and MediaTek.

Why the underclocking? Experts and enthusiasts speculate it’s not necessarily a flaw but a design decision. The compact, foldable form factor of the Flip series severely limits heat dissipation. Unlike bar-style phones that can spread heat across a larger chassis, the Flip’s dual-screen, hinge-limited structure makes thermal management a key concern. By dialing down clock speeds, Samsung may be attempting to strike a balance between performance and practicality—particularly battery life and long-term durability, which have been concerns in the Flip6.

Additionally, the Flip7 will reportedly ship with Android 16, Samsung’s One UI 8, and 12GB of RAM. It’s expected to launch alongside the Fold7 in early July.

Critics argue that Samsung’s continued push for its own silicon is more about profit margins than performance. Exynos chips are made in-house, allowing the company to sidestep licensing and manufacturing costs from Qualcomm or TSMC. However, this often comes at the expense of raw performance, especially in flagship models. Yet, Samsung seems to be banking on a different value proposition for the Flip lineup—style, compactness, and social media appeal over raw benchmark supremacy.

Let’s be honest: most buyers of flip phones aren’t spec chasers. Market data and user behavior suggest the target demographic—often female consumers—prioritize aesthetics, portability, and smooth daily usage over CPU cores and Geekbench numbers. If the Flip7 delivers solid battery life, a reliable camera, and a premium feel, its success won’t hinge on beating Snapdragon’s highest scores.

Samsung may be playing a longer game here, using the Flip series to quietly iterate on Exynos development in a lower-stakes space. If they can fix power efficiency and thermals in foldables, it could set the stage for broader in-house chip adoption across their portfolio in the future.

In the end, the Exynos 2500’s debut in the Flip7 might not win over benchmark purists—but for the audience Samsung is targeting, it could be just enough.