The Exynos processor is made by Samsung in-house for use with its own Samsung smartphones, with some exceptions. Snapdragon SoCs are made by the company Qualcomm for use in third-party mobile devices. The majority of smartphone makers use Snapdragon as the primary SoCs in their devices. Samsung uses Exynos processors for their Asian markets whereas they use Snapdragon SoCs in Europe and North America. This distinction is because of a deal Samsung and Qualcomm have that compels Samsung to use Snapdragon in these locations.
Coming to the main differences, Exynos chips are usually Octa-core whereas Snapdragon chips are Quad-Core chips. While Exynos processors have more chips, Snapdragon chips can be overclocked and achieve much higher processing speeds than the Exynos ones. So, overall the processing power is balanced out between the two processors. The Exynos SoCs come equipped with Mali GPU, whereas the Snapdragon SoCs utilise the much faster Adreno GPUs in comparison. GPUs are helpful in processing graphics so, in terms of gaming, Snapdragon is the clear winner.
When it comes to RAM speeds, the Exynos is much faster because it has a smaller semiconductor that can handle a lot of memory at faster speeds. On the other hand, Snapdragon has integrated LTE support and they were the first ones to introduce 5G integrated modems in their SoCs. Plus, image processing on the Snapdragon is miles better than on Exynos due to the superior Adreno GPU that Snapdragon SoCs use.
The Exynos is better for everyday use and faster app loading time. For someone who uses their smartphone for only calling, browsing or generally using light apps like Instagram, Facebook, the Exynos is the better choice. For people who are into gaming and photography or use intensive apps, they should gravitate towards using devices with the Snapdragon SoCs. Stay tuned for more tech-related news.
I have a strong feeling that it's all gonna change with the next gen chipsets. Exynos AMD RDNA2 was able to beat iPhone 12 Pro Max in latest benchmarks. Given that Adreno GPU tech is developed by AMD, this new venture with exynos will definitely challenge all the other mobile phone SoC manufacturers.
