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Samsung’s next Galaxy S26 series is shaping up to be one of the most intriguing launches of the year — not because of a single standout feature, but due to a shifting chip strategy that could reshape who gets what under the hood. Leaks now suggest the Exynos 2600 may appear across the S26 lineup, but with an important regional twist.
Big performance claims: how Exynos 2600 stacks up
Insiders close to the semiconductor industry, including leakers tracking Korean media, say the Exynos 2600 brings major gains: an NPU that’s reportedly six times faster than Apple’s A19 Pro and roughly 30% ahead of Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5. On raw CPU and GPU numbers, the story is equally bold — multi-core CPU performance could be about 14% higher than the A19 Pro, and the GPU is claimed to be as much as 75% faster than Apple’s chip and up to 29% faster than Qualcomm’s flagship.
Those are eye-catching figures, and if they hold up in real-world tests, Samsung would close a long-standing gap with rivals while giving Galaxy S buyers serious AI and graphics horsepower.
A regional split, not an all-or-nothing switch
Don’t expect a single global configuration. Multiple sources say Samsung is targeting a roughly 50/50 split between Exynos 2600 and Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for S26 shipments. The rumored regional breakdown: Qualcomm-powered units for the US, China and Japan, and Exynos-equipped phones for Korea, Europe and most other markets.
That arrangement preserves Qualcomm’s presence where its modem and market relationships matter most, while letting Samsung promote its in-house silicon elsewhere. It also keeps doors open for supply flexibility.
Samsung Foundry’s role — and a twist
Here’s the subplot: Samsung’s foundries reportedly won orders to manufacture Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 chips, potentially using the advanced 2nm GAA node. The Exynos 2600 is believed to have been slated for that node first, so Samsung-made Snapdragon chips could end up inside Galaxy phones too. In other words, even if a phone ships with a Snapdragon design, the physical chip may still be manufactured at Samsung — blurring the line between “Samsung chip” and “Qualcomm chip.”
What the S26 lineup itself might look like
Beyond chip choices, Samsung's naming and product plan appear to be in flux. Reports suggest the ‘Pro’ label may be dropped (the Galaxy S26 could be the full-name model), the previously rumored S26 Edge may have been canceled, and the S26+ and S26 Ultra are still expected to survive in some form. Expect the usual mix of iterative camera and display improvements, but the chipset story could be the real headline.
What this means for buyers and the market
- If the Exynos 2600 delivers on leaks, buyers outside the US and China could see substantial AI and GPU benefits at launch.
- Regional fragmentation will persist, so buyers should check the chipset if performance or compatibility matters to them.
- Samsung’s foundry success could strengthen its bargaining power with partners and shift how flagship chips are sourced and branded.
Rumors and benchmarks often change before launch, but the current narrative is clear: the Galaxy S26 series may be the first to spotlight Samsung’s renewed silicon ambitions — and a more complex, region-aware strategy for how those chips reach consumers.
Source: gsmarena
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