The global smartphone applications processor (AP) market grew 35 percent to $8.9 billion in Q1 2022, according to Strategy Analytics report.
Qualcomm (45 percent), MediaTek (25 percent), Apple (22 percent), Samsung LSI and Unisoc are the top-five vendors in terms of revenue share in the smartphone applications processor (AP) market in Q1 2022.
Qualcomm has posted an all-time high smartphone apps processor (AP) revenue in Q1 2022, driven by increased share in Samsung Galaxy S smartphones. As a result of Qualcomm’s gains, Samsung’s Exynos AP shipments fell 40 percent during the quarter.
5G-attached AP shipments accounted for 53 percent of total smartphone APs shipped in Q1 2022.
Top-selling Android AI APs include Dimnesity 700, Snapdragon 778G, Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, Dimensity 810, Dimensity 900 and Snapdragon 888/888+.
TSMC manufactured 80 percent of smartphone APs shipped in Q1 2022. Samsung Foundry lost share due to weak Exynos shipments despite momentum with Snapdragon flagship chips.
Smartphone APs manufactured in 7 nm and below process nodes accounted for 48 percent of total smartphone AP shipments in Q1 2022.
New entrants Google and JLQ Technologies (a JV of Leadcore and Qualcomm) together shipped less than a million APs in Q1 2022. HiSilicon’s shipments declined to near zero.
Qualcomm’s 4 nm-based flagship AP Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 gained strong traction in Q1 2022. Its share in Samsung Galaxy S devices drove its smartphone processor revenue to an all-time high. Qualcomm has been able to navigate China and macro concerns well with its premium and high-tier 5G APs, which are seeing high demand from Android smartphone manufacturers.
Samsung’s Exynos AP shipments fell 40 percent in Q1 2022 due to competition from Qualcomm at Samsung Mobile. Samsung showed signs of recovery with mid-range APs such as Exynos 1280, featured in high-volume Galaxy A-series devices.
MediaTek’s Dimensity 9000 AP shipments touched slightly less than 1 million. MediaTek’s increased focus on high-end could help it withstand weakness in the mid-range in 2022 and help it maintain ASPs.
Unisoc gained significant share in 4G APs, thanks to increased traction with tier-one design-wins.
