All Galaxy S26 models may feature an Exynos 2600, but only in one market

Earlier this week, Samsung teased the Exynos 2600 chip, but it didn’t mention whether it will power any of the upcoming Galaxy S26 phones. A new report claims to have the answer to that question, but it appears to only add to the confusion.

Samsung may use Exynos 2600 chips for the Galaxy S26 in Korea

Samsung plans to use its own chips for the Galaxy S26, S26 Plus, and S26 Ultra sold in South Korea. According to a Wccftech report, the company is confident in its chipset, but it faced several issues, including low yields and overheating. Those are mostly resolved, but Samsung will still resort to Snapdragon chips for the rest of the world.

Allegedly, Samsung has a contract with Qualcomm that requires at least 75% of all Galaxy S26 device shipments to feature the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processor. If Samsung breaches that agreement, it may be forced to pay substantial compensation to the chip company.

It’s far from certain

Considering how often we get contradictory rumors about the Galaxy S26 chips, this new report should be taken with a grain of salt. On the other hand, Samsung has already featured Exynos chips in devices sold in some markets and Qualcomm processors in other countries. 

The latest benchmark leaks suggest that this time, the difference might not be so dramatic. In fact, the Exynos 2600 may score even higher than the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 and reach results similar to Apple’s M5 chip. If that information holds up, it may turn out that the 2 nm Samsung chip is the better choice.



Either way, the Galaxy S26 is expected to launch in January or February next year, and the Exynos 2600 may be revealed even earlier. That would give us a much clearer picture of its capabilities.

Samsung’s reputation is at stake

Samsung hasn’t used one of its own chips for a Galaxy S device in a few years, which suggests the company is aware of how people see them. I think an Exynos processor can end up inside a Galaxy S26 only if it outperforms the best Snapdragon. Any other scenario could hurt the already fragile reputation of Samsung’s foundry business.