TL; DR
- Samsung might equip all Galaxy S26 models with its new Exynos 2600 chip
- NPU performance is 6x faster than Apple A19 Pro and 30% ahead of Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 Elite
- This the first time since 2022 that even the Ultra model could ship with Exynos
- Samsung still needs to address the three issues with Exynos: modem, heating, and sustained performance
Samsung is reportedly planning a major change in its flagship strategy. According to credible leaks shared by tipster Jukan, the upcoming Galaxy S26 lineup, including the base S26, S26 Plus, and even the Ultra, could all feature Samsung’s in-house Exynos 2600 chipset.
This would mark the first time in four years, since 2022, that Samsung has used its own AP (application processor) across the entire S series lineup, including the top-tier Ultra model. The previously planned Edge model has also been scrapped.
This development represents a major change from Samsung’s usual dual-sourcing strategy, where Qualcomm chips power the U.S., Japan, and China variants while Exynos is reserved for Korea and Europe.
The company is said to have already begun mass production of the new chipset, with an approximate 50% share in the S26 series. This decision is driven not only by cost-cutting goals but also by major performance gains that finally put Exynos back in the race.
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A massive performance leap for Exynos 2600
According to leaked internal test data cited by Jukan, the Exynos 2600 delivers dramatic performance improvements over both Apple and Qualcomm’s latest silicon. This was totally unexpected and hence has everyone shocked.
Its NPU is reportedly over six times faster than Apple’s A19 Pro chipset and about 30% faster than Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 Elite. On the graphics side, the GPU performance is up to 75% higher compared to Apple’s offering and up to 29% better than Snapdragon’s. CPU multi-core performance is also 14% better than the A19 Pro.
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These numbers hint at a major generational leap, particularly in AI, which Samsung has made a central focus for the new chip. Built on Samsung Foundry’s advanced 2 nm process, the Exynos 2600 is said to feature a completely redesigned architecture aimed at maximizing AI efficiency and performance.
Perhaps this level of performance is what convinced Samsung to consider the chip for all S26 models, even the Ultra, which relied exclusively on Snapdragon silicon ever since the S23 Ultra. However, all of this is just on paper, and the real-world performance of the Exynos 2600 may differ like always.
Would you buy the S26 Ultra with Exynos 2600?
If Samsung moves forward with its plan, the Galaxy S26 lineup, expected to launch in early 2026, could be the company’s most controversial flagship generation in years. I’m still skeptical about the Exynos modems, as that’s the one area that continues to hold Exynos back.
Performance itself was never really the problem. What matters now is whether Samsung can sustain this level of performance in real-world use and control overheating, as that’s exactly where Exynos has earned its negative reputation over the years.
What do you think about this change? Let me know in the comments section below.
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