Samsung appears to be shifting its focus toward its in-house Exynos chips for the upcoming Galaxy S26 lineup in 2026. This change comes after the company primarily utilized Qualcomm’s Snapdragon chip in its recent models, including the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for the Galaxy S24 Ultra and the Snapdragon 8 Elite for the Galaxy S25 series.
However, reports suggest that Samsung may again prioritize Exynos, particularly the Exynos 2600, although the availability of this chip will be limited. A recent leak from a notable source indicates that while the Exynos 2600 is set to make a return, Samsung is expected to face challenges due to limited quantities.
This situation mirrors the past experience with the Exynos 990, which was used in Galaxy S20 and Note 20 models outside of key markets like the US, China, and Canada. The constraints surrounding the Exynos 2600’s availability could lead Samsung to repeat a similar distribution strategy, where specific variants use Qualcomm’s chip while others utilize Exynos.
The scarcity of the Exynos 2600 may stem from production issues related to Samsung’s foundry and its 2nm process technology. This suggests that the chip may find its place primarily in the standard Galaxy S26 and S26+ models, while the Galaxy S26 Ultra could remain with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite 2.
In addition, there are indications that Samsung is considering the Exynos 2500 for upcoming budget models like the Galaxy Z Flip FE. The company had previously equipped the Galaxy S24 FE with the Exynos 2400.
Since Exynos chips have yet to match Qualcomm’s in terms of performance and efficiency, using them in flagship devices may not align with Samsung’s brand image and could be more suitable for their FE lineup.
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