Samsung's upcoming Galaxy A18 lineup will break from tradition by abandoning Exynos processors entirely. According to ZDNet Korea, both the 4G and 5G variants will use competing chips instead. Samsung made this shift likely due to cost considerations, marking a significant change for the mid-range series.

The Galaxy A17 previously featured MediaTek's Helio G99 in its 4G model and Samsung's own Exynos 1330 in the 5G version. This year's strategy suggests Qualcomm and MediaTek have won favor with their pricing or performance offerings. The move reflects broader industry competition where Samsung's in-house chips face pressure from established chipset makers.

Production plans show the 4G model leading the launch schedule. Manufacturing starts in August with 100,000 units, scaling to 2.4 million in September and 2.5 million in October. The 5G variant will follow months later once Qualcomm finalizes its components. Samsung may adjust volumes based on market reception.

The Galaxy A18 4G carries model number SM-A185F, confirmed through test firmware spotted on Samsung's European servers. While chip specifics remain undisclosed, this transition signals Samsung prioritizing supply chain flexibility over vertical integration for its affordable smartphone line.