The Galaxy S20 Ultra, even five years after its release, stands out as one of Samsung’s most captivating smartphones of the past decade. It marks a significant chapter in mobile and Exynos history, being the first Galaxy S Ultra model and pioneering the 100x “Space Zoom” camera feature. Notably, it is the last Galaxy S phone to incorporate Samsung’s custom CPU core, the Mongoose M5. Despite the Exynos 990 chip’s mixed reputation, this unique hardware feature distinguishes the S20 Ultra today.
Samsung’s Exynos division once developed custom CPU cores under the Mongoose brand, with the M5 making its final appearance in the Galaxy S20 Ultra. Following its launch, the Mongoose M5 and Exynos 990 were also used in the Note 20 Ultra, the last of the Note series. This core not only initiated the Galaxy S Ultra series but also concluded the Note lineup, leaving a lasting legacy.
While the Exynos 990 was one of Samsung’s more controversial chips, current Exynos processors have moved away from custom in-house cores. Though Samsung’s chip division may revisit custom CPU development in the future, the Mongoose M5 remains a unique hallmark of the Galaxy S20 Ultra, setting it apart from its successors.
