The Samsung Galaxy S22 is reportedly available in two editions, one with a Snapdragon 898 chip and one with an Exynos 2200 chip, whether the Basic, Pro, or Ultra version. And this could make a big difference in graphics performance.

This according to a new post on Twitter by Max Weinbach. This is probably no surprise to longtime followers of Samsung smartphones, but the fact that it was mentioned by a trusted leaker makes it particularly interesting in light of other rumors about these chips.

The Exynos 2200 version of the Galaxy S22 (presumably the one UK readers will be able to purchase) has been the subject of several fascinating leaks. In addition to being really powerful, according to benchmarks, the chip will reportedly feature a new GPU in partnership with AMD, which may include RDNA architecture and ray-tracing technology, like the latest graphics cards for the PS5 and Xbox Series X. For the sake of Samsung's many American fans, we hope so. But if AMD's technology is for some reason tied to the Exynos chip, it could mean that the best S22 model will be the one sold in Europe.

The reason Samsung is splitting up its cell phone chips this way is that most U.S. networks are designed using technology patented by Qualcomm, which happens to be the chipmaker of the Snapdragon series. Samsung is therefore faced with the choice of purchasing the Snapdragon chips for use in models sold in the U.S. (and some other markets) or paying a hefty licensing fee to use Qualcomm's patented design.

Samsung's semiconductor division also manufactures some of Qualcomm's chips on behalf of Qualcomm. This could include the Galaxy S22 as well as the Snapdragon 898 chip (according to leaker Ice Universe), which is expected to power the majority of Android flagship phones next year.

Besides silicon, there are several other rumors about the Galaxy S22. Recently, there has been talk of a new design for the Galaxy S22's rear camera, which is currently believed to be a "water-drop" design. There is also talk that the base model S22 and S22 Pro (successor to the Galaxy S21 Plus) will be smaller than last year's equivalent models. The S22 Ultra, on the other hand, will reportedly remain the same size as the Galaxy S21 Ultra, but may have a built-in S Pen stylus styled like Samsung's Galaxy Note models.