Samsung today unveiled its first ever 20nm mobile SoC. The new Exynos 5430 Octa-core chipset doesn't bring anything radically new to the table - it is still based on the old ARM Cortex A15 CPU architecture - but it boasts increased power efficiency due to the new 20nm HKMG manufacturing process. The smaller node enables better thermals, lower power consumption and allows Samsung to push for higher clock frequencies.

Spec wise, the Exynos 5430 Octa is nearly identical to the Exynos 5422. It's got 4 x ARM Cortex A15 cores based on the new r3p3 revision, which is more efficient than the r2p4 revision cores in the Exynos 5422. The faster CPUs are clocked at 1.8 GHz. It has also got 4 x ARM Cortex A7 low-power cores clocked at 1.3 GHz.

On the GPU front, we have the same ARM Mali-T628 MP6 (hex-core) unit that is clocked at 533 MHz. It supports WQXGA (2560 x 1600) and WQHD (2560 x 1440) resolution displays.

Samsung has added a new multi-format codec with support for H.265 decoding. A new co-processor, dubbed Seiren, is present for decoding audio. Also included are new technologies such as Mobile Image Compression and Adaptive Hibernation Display technology, which will aid in saving power consumed by the display.

Samsung expects a 25% reduction in power consumption under ideal conditions using the new Exynos 5430 Octa chipset.

The Samsung Galaxy Alpha is the first device to make use of the new Exynos 5430 chipset. It will begin shipping in early September.