Exynos 2600 External Modem Could Affect Galaxy S26 Battery Life

Over the weekend, we learned which modem the new Exynos 2600 will pair with. That’s because the latest chipset doesn’t come with an integrated modem, making it quite different from most of its rivals. As revealed, the modem will be called the Shannon 5410. But will that make any real difference for the Galaxy S26 and Galaxy S26+, two phones that are expected to use the Exynos 2600 in select markets?

As Android Authority helpfully explains, integrated modems are usually more power-efficient. They save space, reduce wiring, and typically generate less heat. An external modem, by contrast, can consume more power, especially during mobile data use, raising concerns about battery life and thermal performance on Exynos-powered Galaxy S26 models.

Whether Exynos 2600-equipped Galaxy S26 are power hungry or not, only time will tell

That said, the situation isn’t entirely black and white. The Exynos 2600 is Samsung’s first smartphone chip built on a 2nm process. In theory, that should deliver meaningful efficiency gains over Qualcomm’s expected 3nm Snapdragon chip. Those gains could help offset the higher power draw of an external modem, assuming Samsung gets the tuning right.

Furthermore, Exynos 2600 packs more internal components than its predecessors. A 10-core CPU layout, a new AMD-based GPU with neural super-sampling, a beefed-up NPU, and Samsung’s Heat Path Block cooling technology all take up space. Dropping the integrated modem may have been the simplest way to keep die size and costs under control.

Still, concerns remain. External modems have a track record of hurting real-world efficiency, particularly on cellular networks. If Samsung miscalculates, Exynos-powered Galaxy S26 models could end up with weaker endurance than their Snapdragon counterparts. That said, iPhones have long relied on external modems, and the iPhone 17 Pro still uses Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X80 5G modem. So let’s hope Samsung has some luck to their side.