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Samsung is keeping its cards close to the chest about the Galaxy S26. After comments in a recent earnings call, the company confirmed it is still evaluating processors for next year's flagship — and that includes the in-house Exynos 2600 and rival Snapdragon chips. The decision, it seems, isn't as simple as past years.
Why the processor choice matters for the Galaxy S26
Application processor selection shapes battery life, performance, and regional availability. Samsung told investors that it has clear criteria for what it wants to deliver in flagship phones and that APs will be chosen against those standards. That makes sense: a chip isn't just silicon, it's the foundation of the camera experience, gaming performance, thermal behavior, and 5G capability.
Exynos 2600 under review — but no final call yet
According to Korean reports summarizing the Q3 call, Samsung is still testing the Exynos 2600 and has not committed to using it in the Galaxy S26 family. The company pointed out that while Exynos has been adopted more widely in the Galaxy A and Galaxy Z lines, the evaluation process for the S series differs and is more stringent. Simply put, the bar is higher for Samsung's top-selling premium lineup.
That leaves two broad possibilities: the S26 lineup could ship with Samsung's own Exynos in some regions, or the company could lean on Qualcomm's Snapdragon for certain markets — possibly the US. Or, Samsung may already have an internal plan but is avoiding public confirmation until launch season, which is consistent with its usual playbook.
Will the US get a different chip?
Historically, Samsung has split its flagships between Exynos and Snapdragon depending on market. This time around, observers expect the US to be a likely candidate for Snapdragon, but Samsung has not confirmed region-specific plans. If performance comparisons between Exynos 2600 and current Snapdragon silicon are favorable, we could see a broader roll-out of Exynos. If not, Snapdragon will remain the safe choice for key markets.
More uncertainty around the S26 lineup
The chipset question isn't the only unknown. Rumors about the Galaxy S26 series have been mixed — from talk that Samsung might drop the S26+ in favor of a new Edge model, to newer leaks insisting the S26+ will indeed be released. With product strategy and AP evaluation both in flux, Samsung's flagship roadmap for 2026 is looking unusually unsettled.
For now, the clear takeaway is this: Samsung is prioritizing flagship standards over quick announcements. Whether that leads to Exynos 2600 powering the S26 in many regions, or Snapdragon retaining its foothold, remains to be seen. Consumers and industry watchers will have to wait for further testing results and official word from Samsung as we head toward next year.
Source: sammobile
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