It’s Real: Samsung Teases Exynos 2600 for Galaxy S26 Series

Samsung has all but confirmed that the Galaxy S26 flagships will feature its 2nm Exynos 2600 processor. The company didn’t explicitly name these unannounced products, but dropped a huge hint in a press release explaining its Q3 2025 earnings. The Ultra model may still ship with the latest Snapdragon chip globally.

Exynos returns to Samsung’s Galaxy flagships in 2026

Samsung’s latest earnings report states that it plans to “strengthen the competitiveness of the Exynos processor for key flagship models” in 2026. This strongly indicates the debut of the Exynos 2600 in the upcoming Galaxy S26 series, at least in some regions. The company has already launched a foldable with an Exynos chip this year. The Galaxy Z Flip 7 features the Exynos 2500.

While early reports claimed that even the Galaxy S26 Ultra would use Exynos, a trusted tipster has clarified that this isn’t the case. According to them, “S26 Ultra is not Exynos. All Snapdragon.” This means Samsung will equip the Ultra model with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 globally. The Exynos 2600, meanwhile, may power the Galaxy S26 and S26+ in most markets.

The Exynos 2600 is expected to be fabricated using Samsung’s cutting-edge 2nm process, marking a major leap over the 3nm Exynos 2500. Early performance leaks suggest noticeable gains in efficiency and sustained performance, potentially putting Samsung’s silicon closer to Qualcomm’s flagship offerings than ever before.

In its earnings statement, Samsung underscored its commitment to strengthening its semiconductor competitiveness and tighter integration across devices. The company sounds confident in its flagship Exynos chips, having struggled with heat management and performance throttling in the past.

By transitioning to the 2nm node and optimizing AI and GPU efficiency, Samsung aims to rebuild trust among users and developers alike. Whether Exynos 2600 can finally match Snapdragon’s dominance remains to be seen. However, one thing’s clear: Samsung’s silicon comeback is officially underway.