ABI Research Teardown: Samsung Galaxy S II Shows New Design Approach Including Exynos Dual-Core Processor

Research News

New York, New York - 07 Jul 2011

This spring, Samsung launched the Galaxy S II, a new flagship member of its Android smartphone lineup. As part of its new Teardown Research Service, ABI Research has dismantled, analyzed, and tested the device down to the component level. The conclusion? If you are looking to keep up with the latest technology in 2011, the Galaxy S II is a good place to start.

Samsung Galaxy IC.jpg

According to ABI Research vice president of engineering James Mielke,  “Samsung started from scratch with this phone: almost every component is new. Its application processor is the most powerful on the market at present. It is the first to use the Samsung Exynos 4210 dual-core application processor (a competitor to NVIDIA’s dual-core Tegra 2). The name Exynos combines Greek words for ‘smart’ and ‘green,’ indicating Samsung’s energy-efficiency goals for the design.”

Major changes include:

  • Exynos dual-core apps processor. 118.8 mm2 die size with amperage specs roughly similar to the Tegra 2.
  • New single-packaged multi-band multi-mode PA from RFMD.
  • New CMOS-based antenna switch.
  • New lower-power XMM6260 cellular chipset from Infineon.


Mielke sums up: “Samsung took many risks by combining all these new technologies into one phone. But ABI Research believes those risks will pay off; the Galaxy S II sets a new benchmark for almost every category on which a smartphone is measured.”

ABI Research’s “Samsung Galaxy S II Teardown” report provides detailed photos, process evaluation, and part descriptions for all of the major components such as power amplifier, power management, baseband processor, RF, Bluetooth, GPS, WiLAN, and many discretes. Tying all this information together are unique circuit board photos, performance measurements, cost information, and board area data.

It is one of hundreds of devices and components – phones, baseband processors, power management, RF modules, connectivity components, application processors, sensors, and RF and power management discretes – that are torn down and analyzed in the firm’s Mobile Device Teardown Service.

ABI Research provides in-depth analysis and quantitative forecasting of trends in global connectivity and other emerging technologies. From offices in North America, Europe and Asia, ABI Research’s worldwide team of experts advises thousands of decision makers through 40+ research and advisory services. Est. 1990. For more information visit www.abiresearch.com, or call +1.516.624.2500.​