Danny Weber
13:07 20-10-2025
© A. Krivonosov
Reports say the Samsung Galaxy S26 lineup will use the Exynos 2600 instead of Snapdragon, boasting AI, CPU and graphics gains. Could this be a turning point?
New details about the upcoming flagship Samsung Galaxy S26 lineup have surfaced online — and they may not sit well with Snapdragon loyalists. Despite expectations that at least the Galaxy S26 Ultra would keep the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, sources in South Korea say every model in the series will run on the in-house Exynos 2600.
If confirmed, this would be the first time in four years that Samsung drops Snapdragon entirely from its flagships. For longtime fans — especially those who pick the Ultra for peak performance — the shift could be unexpected. The move also reads as a bold bet on homegrown silicon, and the company is confident the new chip can change how people view Exynos.
According to preliminary data, the Exynos 2600 posts striking numbers: it reportedly outpaces the latest Apple processors by six times in artificial intelligence compute. In addition, the source claims the chip is 15% faster in CPU tasks, while graphics are 75% stronger. Compared with the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, Exynos is said to deliver 30% better AI performance and 29% higher graphics. A sixfold lead over Apple’s latest is bound to raise eyebrows.
A separate modem moved off the main die freed more room for the CPU and GPU, which, according to engineers, improved overall power efficiency and system stability.
How closely these figures match reality will become clear with the first device tests. If they hold up, the Galaxy S26 could signal a turning point in Samsung’s strategy — and a chance to restore confidence in Exynos.