Qualcomm To Power 75% Of Galaxy S26 Handsets, Remaining Units Could Use Exynos 2600

By Shikhar Mehrotra • Updated On Nov 7, 2025

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TL; DR

In a recent earnings call, Qualcomm’s CEO Cristiano Amon claimed that the company’s chipsets will power around 75% of the Galaxy S26 devices in the coming year (down from 100% for the Galaxy S25 series).
The remainign 25% could be powered by Samsung’s Exynos 2600 chipset. While the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 could power the Galaxy S26 models in the United States, Japan, and China, the Exynos 2600 could power the handsets in other markets like South Korea and India.

This year, Samsung equipped all Galaxy S25 handsets with a Qualcomm chipset: the Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy. However, this year could be a bit different, as the Korean tech giant could return to a two-chip strategy.

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Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 To Dominate Global Shipments

Galaxy S26 Ultra To Follow Suit — S26 Ultra in full glory

In a recent earnings call, Qualcomm’s CEO Cristiano Amon claimed that the company’s chipsets will power around 75% of the Galaxy S26 devices in the coming year (down from 100% for the Galaxy S25 series).

Now, what could this mean for the Galaxy S26 series? In our understanding, Amon is referring to the total number of Galaxy S26 units sold worldwide. Second, the executive’s claims indicate that 25% of the lineup’s handsets will feature a non-Qualcomm chipset.

Also Read: Realme GT 8 Pro’s India launch packs a 7,000mAh battery and Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5

Exynos 2600 Returns — But In Fewer Markets

The remainign 25% could be powered by Samsung’s Exynos 2600 chipset. While the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 could power the Galaxy S26 models in the United States, Japan, and China, the Exynos 2600 could power the handsets in other markets like South Korea and India (at least on the non-Ultra models).

Performance And Efficiency Expectations

Most recently, the Eyxnos 2600 appeared in Geekbench 6’s database, where the chipset scored 3,047 and 10,025 in single-core and multi-core tests, respectively. These scores are lower than those of the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 (3,657/11,096 in the single/multi-core).

Also Read: Apple Is Betting $1 Billion (Per Year) On Gemini To Supercharge Siri With AI: Bloomberg

Stay tuned for our detailed roundups of the Galaxy S26, Galaxy S26 Plus, and Galaxy S26 Ultra, which will go live soon.

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Shikhar Mehrotra

Shikhar Mehrotra is a seasoned technology writer and reviewer with over five years of experience covering consumer tech across India and global markets. At Smartprix, he has authored more than 1,700 articles, including news stories, features, comparisons, and product reviews spanning automobiles, smartphones, chipsets, wearables, laptops, home appliances, and operating systems. Shikhar has reviewed flagship devices such as the iPhone 16, Galaxy S25+, and Sennheiser HD 505 Open-Ear headphones. He also contributes regularly to Smartprix’s growing automotive section.

With a deep understanding of both iOS and Android ecosystems, Shikhar specializes in daily tech news, how-to explainers, product comparisons, and in-depth reviews. His DSLR photography in product reviews is recognized as among the best on the team.

Before joining Smartprix, Shikhar wrote for leading publications including Forbes Advisor India, Republic World, and ScreenRant. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and Mass Communication from Amity University, Lucknow.

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