There has already been a lot of speculation about Samsung’s Galaxy S26 series, which we expect to see in early 2026. In particular, discussions about the extent to which Exynos processors, which the company has developed for many years and has been subject to criticism from time to time, will be included in this series, attract attention. Samsung plans to use Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite processors mainly in the Galaxy S25 series. However, information from reliable sources shows that Exynos processors may come to the fore again in the Galaxy S26 series.
Samsung has preferred to use its own Exynos processors in many flagship models in the past. On the other hand, the fact that Exynos processors lag behind Snapdragon processors in terms of performance and energy consumption has created great dissatisfaction, especially among users. For this reason, a radical step was taken in the Galaxy S23 series by using entirely Snapdragon processors. However, this change did not mean that Samsung completely abandoned its goals of developing its own technology.
The South Korea-based technology giant returned to its dual processor strategy by reusing the Exynos 2400 processor in certain markets in the Galaxy S24 series. The performance increase of Exynos 2400 and efforts to close the gap with Snapdragon were the basis of this strategy. Now, the “significant” use of Exynos 2600 processors in the Galaxy S26 series is on the agenda.
The future of the Exynos 2600 processor
One of the main reasons why Exynos processors were not used in the Galaxy S25 series was the efficiency problems experienced in the production process. The low yield rates of the Exynos 2500’s 3nm manufacturing process have made it uneconomic for large-scale use of this chip. As a result, Snapdragon processors were mainly preferred in Galaxy S25 models. However, it is said that the Exynos 2500 has not been completely shelved and can be used in a limited way in models such as Galaxy Z Flip 7.
It is reported that Samsung is currently making certain progress in the 3nm manufacturing process and is working to produce the Exynos 2600 with this technology. In addition, it is stated that the company aims to achieve sufficient efficiency in the 2nm production process in a timely manner. This indicates that Exynos 2600 may find a wider usage area not only technically but also economically.
Samsung’s planning to use Exynos processors on a larger scale in the Galaxy S26 series can be considered as an effort to restore the company’s confidence in its own technology. However, this may create a different dynamic for consumers. Although Exynos processors have been disappointing in terms of performance in the past, they are trying to change this perception with the improvements made in recent years. Exynos 2400’s approach to Snapdragon with its performance in the Galaxy S24 series was an important step in this direction.
However, some users feel that Exynos processors still lag behind Snapdragon in terms of energy efficiency and long-term performance. Therefore, Samsung needs to offer a significant improvement in Exynos processors with the Galaxy S26 series. Otherwise, the dual processor strategy may have a negative impact on consumer satisfaction.
This strategy of Samsung regarding Exynos processors shows the importance the company attaches to its own developed technologies. Exynos 2600 could play a key role not only in the Galaxy S26 series, but also in other models that will be released in the coming years. On the other hand, solving efficiency problems in the production process is critical for Samsung to be able to offer these processors at a competitive price.
With the Galaxy S26 series, Samsung aims to change the performance perception of Exynos processors and have these processors take a strong place in flagship models again. However, to achieve this goal, important steps need to be taken both technically and strategically.