Samsung appears to be reshaping its chipset approach with the upcoming Galaxy S26, signaling a potential reduction in its reliance on Qualcomm Snapdragon processors. Industry expert Samir Khazaka highlights that Samsung’s renewed commitment to its in-house Exynos chips could redefine performance standards and impact pricing strategies for future Galaxy devices.
Exynos Makes a Strong Comeback
The Galaxy S26 is expected to feature less dependence on Snapdragon chips compared to its predecessors.
The Exynos 2600 chip, slated to power about 25% of Galaxy S26 units, stands out as the world’s first smartphone chipset built using 2nm technology. It also integrates a GPU utilizing AMD’s advanced RDNA4 architecture. Additionally, the chipset incorporates the innovative Heat Path Block (HPB) technology, enhancing thermal management and overall efficiency.
Anticipated Price Increase for Galaxy S26
Although Samsung has not officially announced pricing, the Galaxy S26 is expected to be unveiled in February. Rising component costs make it challenging for Samsung to keep prices aligned with previous models.
Galaxy S26 variants will include the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset, but Samsung’s reinforced focus on Exynos aims to close the performance gap with Snapdragon processors. This effort is part of a strategy to curb escalating expenses, especially important as Qualcomm has increased prices on its 8 Gen chips annually since their launch.
What Are Your Thoughts on More Galaxy S Models Using Exynos Chips?
Looking Ahead to 2026
The year 2026 is shaping up to be a pivotal period for Samsung’s chipset development and overall smartphone strategy as it attempts to strengthen its position in the market amid stiff competition and rising component costs.
