The Samsung Exynos 9610 is a mid-range octa-core processor built on a 10nm FinFET process , specifically designed to bring premium multimedia features like high-speed slow-motion video and AI-enhanced photography to more affordable smartphones. Key Technical Specifications CPU Architecture : Octa-core configuration featuring 4x Cortex-A73 cores at 2.3GHz for performance and 4x Cortex-A53 cores at 1.7GHz for efficiency. GPU : Mali-G72 MP3 based on the second-generation Bifrost architecture, supporting modern APIs and techniques like Multi-Sample Anti-Aliasing (MSAA) for smoother gaming visuals. AI Engine : Integrated vision image processing unit based on deep-learning technology, which powers advanced face detection and single-camera bokeh (portrait mode). Advanced Multimedia Capabilities Super Slow-Motion : A standout feature of the 9610 is its ability to record 480fps slow-motion video in Full HD (1080p). This is achieved through a 1.6x improvement in the Image Signal Processor (ISP) and doubling the MIPI interface speed. 4K Performance : Supports recording and playback of 4K UHD video at 120fps using the HEVC (H.265) codec. Imaging : Enhances low-light photography by merging multiple frames to reduce noise and increase brightness. Performance Benchmarks Antutu Score : Typically reaches approximately 174,773 , placing it in the mid-range tier for its generation. Comparison : While it offers strong single-thread performance, it is roughly 11% slower in multi-threaded tasks compared to older flagship chips like the Snapdragon 835 . Connectivity LTE Modem : Supports Cat.12 3CA for download speeds up to 600Mbps and Cat.13 2CA for up to 150Mbps uploads. Global Positioning : Includes a 4-mode GNSS receiver supporting GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou, and Galileo for comprehensive global coverage. Official technical details and performance summaries are available directly from the Samsung Semiconductor Global site and Bajaj Finserv . Samsung Exynos 9610 Mobile Phones with Price List (2024)
Review: Exynos 9610 — Driver & Software Support Summary
The Exynos 9610 is a mid‑range Samsung SoC introduced in 2018 (12 nm LPP), used in several phones (e.g., Galaxy A50, some variants of A30/A70, select OEM models). This review focuses on driver and software support: upstream availability, kernel support, graphics/VPU drivers, modem and baseband, power management, vendor blobs, developer experience, and practical implications for custom ROMs, security updates, and longevity.
Key specifications (context)
CPU: 4x Cortex‑A73 + 4x Cortex‑A53 (big.LITTLE). GPU: Mali‑G72 MP3. Process: 10/12 nm class (Samsung LPP for 9610). ISP/VPU: Samsung image pipeline and video encode/decode blocks (HW HEVC/H.264 support). Typical use: mid‑range Android devices from 2018–2019.
Kernel support and upstreaming
Mainline Linux kernel: There is no full upstream mainline support specifically tailored for Exynos 9610 platform device trees and SoC‑specific drivers in mainline as of its initial lifecycle. Samsung provides kernel sources (GPL) for each device model, usually based on older Android kernels (4.x or 4.14–4.19 era), with significant SoC patches and platform glue. Device trees & platform code: Device tree blobs (DTBs) and platform drivers for SoC‑specific peripherals were typically maintained in vendor branches rather than merged upstream. That affects portability to mainline kernels: developers must backport Samsung platform drivers or use vendor kernels. Practical effect: Custom ROMs and custom kernels typically rely on Samsung’s vendor kernel sources or substantial local patches; full mainline support requires work and often lacks GPU/ISP/PMIC integration. driver exynos 9610
Graphics and Mali drivers
GPU: Mali‑G72 MP3. Drivers: ARM provides two driver stacks:
Kernel DRM drivers (panfrost or Lima origin): Panfrost upstream supports more recent Mali mid‑range GPUs, but initial support was focused on certain Mali‑Gxx variants; compatibility with G72 MP3 has progressed but depends on kernel/userland versions. Binary (proprietary) Mali userspace (libmali) and kernel modules provided by Samsung historically. Many vendor images used the proprietary blobs for optimal performance and shader compiler support. The Samsung Exynos 9610 is a mid-range octa-core
Open‑source status: Over time, panfrost has gained G72 support; on older vendor kernels, running panfrost can require backporting driver and Mesa support. For users seeking fully open‑source GPU stack, success depends on kernel version and available panfrost support for G72 MP3 in that release. Performance/compatibility: Vendor blobs often give better out‑of‑the‑box performance for shipped Android releases. For custom kernels or mainline adoption, panfrost (with modern Mesa) can reach usable performance but may require kernel upgrades.
Multimedia (ISP, VPU) drivers