Looks like Exynos is crawling back onto the Galaxy stage—but don’t expect a global comeback just yet. Fresh leaks suggest Samsung’s next flagship lineup, the Samsung Galaxy S26 series, could ship with the new Exynos 2600 chip… but only in Europe. Everywhere else? Still good ol’ Qualcomm.
This isn’t exactly unexpected. Initial plans to release the Exynos 2500 in the S25 device had to be canceled because of production problems. Reports suggest that this decision ended up costing Samsung’s chip team approximately $400 million. That’s a hefty price to pay. So yeah, they’re definitely trying to avoid a repeat.
The Exynos 2600 is now being developed using Samsung’s advanced 2nm process with GAA technology, which is expected to offer improved efficiency and a smaller footprint. But here’s the catch: yield rates are still not high enough to meet global demand. That’s why Samsung’s reportedly keeping it local—Europe gets Exynos, while most other markets will stick with the more proven Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 “Elite” version (or whatever name Qualcomm settles on).
For European users, that might mean slightly better battery life, but performance-wise? Snapdragon still has the edge, especially in gaming and graphics. Not great news if you’re in the EU and like your phone blazing fast.
It’s clear Samsung is trying to prove it still has skin in the chip game, but unless yield issues get sorted, Exynos is likely to stay regional. Let’s hope they figure it out before the S26 hits shelves next year.
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