Samsung revives Exynos with the 2 nm Exynos 2600 in the Galaxy S26 and S26 Edge, while the S26 Ultra sticks to Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 2. Explore performance.
Dasha Sysoeva
Samsung is bringing Exynos processors back to the Galaxy S26 lineup — arguably the most dramatic change in the next flagship. According to insiders, the company has successfully wrapped development of the 2 nm Exynos 2600, which will power the standard Galaxy S26 and the S26 Edge. The top-tier model — the Galaxy S26 Ultra — will stick with the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 2, the same across all markets.
The regional split is returning as well: in the United States and South Korea, the phones will run exclusively on Snapdragon, while Europe and several other countries will see Exynos variants. This setup has sparked debate among brand loyalists before, but the dynamics may be shifting: early tests of the Exynos 2600 indicate the new chip noticeably outpaces the Snapdragon 8 Elite from the Galaxy S25 line.
Of course, Qualcomm isn’t standing still. The 3 nm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 2 remains tremendously powerful and will be the sole option for Galaxy S26 Ultra buyers. Even so, the very arrival of the Exynos 2600 on the market reads as a long-awaited comeback.
Samsung appears to be moving in the right direction: a homegrown processor built on a 2 nm node could be a step toward greater independence for the company — and perhaps echo Apple’s playbook with its Mac chips. Even if Exynos trails Snapdragon in some areas, buyers — especially in Europe — stand to get phones with serious headroom.