Samsung Galaxy S26 may return to Exynos over Snapdragon — that is what everyone knows
For years, patrons of Samsung’s flagship telephones have been subject to a geographical lottery. Whereas the handsets outwardly look the an identical, the chipset powering them usually relies upon the realm of purchase, with the USA getting Qualcomm chips, and the rest of the world seeing fashions with Samsung’s private Exynos processors.
Subsequent yr’s Samsung Galaxy S25 family will reportedly be an exception, with all three fashions getting the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite, regardless of the place you buy. That’s good news for tech followers, sometimes — not just because you could be sure that any opinions you study will match the effectivity of the model you buy, nonetheless because of historically Qualcomm chips have outperformed their Exynos equivalents.
Nevertheless apparently this isn’t a change that’s going to remaining. On X, the leaker @Jukanlosreve has claimed that Samsung is planning to “‘significantly’ equip the Galaxy S26 with Exynos chips subsequent yr.” In truth, the leaker really means the yr after subsequentgiven we haven’t even seen the Galaxy S25 however, nonetheless you get the aim.
Such a change is type of anticipated. After all, the precept motive we’re anticipating no Exynos-powered items this yr is because of — in step with Korean media — Samsung’s 3nm manufacturing course of is producing a low yield of chips. Plus, we’ve already heard that the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 could be the primary foldable to be powered by an Exynos, so the company evidently wasn’t Qualcomm solely any additional.
Disappointing, nonetheless not the highest of the world
In truth Samsung would favor to utilize its private chips the place potential: it retains costs down, significantly given the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite is reckoned to be 25-30% dearer than its predecessor. The weak state of the Korean Gained doesn’t help points, each.
Nonetheless, tech followers is also disillusioned. Historically, the Qualcomm variations of Galaxy telephones have outperformed their Exynos equivalents, so it’s a shame that we is also going once more to the un-level collaborating in self-discipline as shortly as 2026.
Nevertheless there are two points to recollect. Firstly, whereas we’ve heard huge claims sooner than about Exynos {{hardware}} most likely bettering Qualcomm solely to be wildly disillusioned, it’s always potential that 2026 is the yr when it is going to really happen. Considering earlier sort, it doesn’t seem attainable, nonetheless hey: you in no way know.
Nevertheless, secondly, it attainable obtained’t make that quite a bit distinction. Whereas benchmarks make for superb bragging rights, the exact real-world distinction between flagship phone effectivity stays largely invisible for a lot of prospects.
Besides you’re pushing the phone’s GPU with terribly intensive video video games, most people will attainable uncover the experience of using an Exynos-flavored Samsung Galaxy S26 indistinguishable from a Qualcomm-packed one.
We’re nonetheless a good way from the launch of the Galaxy S26, in any case, given Samsung should get the Galaxy S25 out the door first! We’re anticipating it to launch in late January, that features rounded corners, a much bigger present on the S25 and a rounded once more panel on the S25 Extraordinarily. Said deluxe model could embrace 50MP sensors on every the ultrawide and secondary telephoto lenses — an enormous enhance on the 12MP and 10MP lenses on the S24 Extraordinarily.
