Samsung Exynos and S3C64XX SoC pin controllers
Pin multiplexing and GPIO configuration support for Samsung's Exynos line of mobile and automotive SoCs and the older S3C64XX application processors. These chips power Samsung Galaxy phones, Google Pixel devices using the Tensor/GS101 family, Chromebooks, and Exynos Auto-based vehicle infotainment and ADAS systems.
recommendation
It should stay in the kernel because Samsung is still shipping new silicon that depends on it, including the Exynos 2400 mobile processor and the Exynos Auto V920 automotive chip. Upstream activity is healthy: feature work landed in 2025 for the Google GS101 (Pixel) variant, and even the legacy S3C64XX side received functional updates in 2024. There is no replacement driver; this is the canonical in-tree pin controller for the whole Samsung SoC family.
repository signals
sources
- lore.kernel.org
The driver is still receiving feature work for recent Samsung/Google SoCs in 2025, not just janitorial fixes.
- lore.kernel.org
The driver saw late-2025 upstream refactoring for active Exynos support, indicating ongoing maintenance rather than removal.
- lore.kernel.org
Even the older S3C64XX-side file received functional work in 2024, showing the directory is not abandoned.
- semiconductor.samsung.com
Samsung was still marketing the Exynos 2400 mobile SoC in 2025-era product material, so the family is still sold new.
- semiconductor.samsung.com
Samsung was also marketing current Exynos Auto processors, supporting continued new deployments of Samsung pinctrl-capable SoCs.
- git.kernel.org
Upstream Kconfig presents this as the in-tree pinctrl driver for Samsung Exynos and S3C64XX SoCs; there is no separate replacement driver.
codex reasoning notes (technical)
Keep. lore_file_timeline on drivers/pinctrl/samsung/pinctrl-exynos.c showed heavy 2025 activity including new GS101/Exynos work and no removal pattern in returned subjects; lore_file_timeline on pinctrl-s3c64xx.c showed functional updates in 2024 plus a 2025 treewide API rename, so even the legacy branch is still maintained. web search_query found current Samsung Semiconductor pages for Exynos 2400 and Exynos Auto V920, supporting that relevant hardware is still sold for mobile/automotive use. Kconfig scope/replacement claim uses canonical-recall kernel.org tree URL, cross-checked against local source read.