In a surprising turn of events, a new report suggests that Samsung may limit the availability of its in-house Exynos 2600 chipset for the Galaxy S26 series, restricting it potentially to just the South Korean market. This could mean that the entire Galaxy S26 series could use a Snapdragon chipset globally, but in Korea.
Galaxy S26 Series could be powered by Snapdragon all across
After the recent Exynos 2600 tease, we expected it to power the Samsung Galaxy S26 and Galaxy S26+ in select global regions. However, a report from CTT Research (via IT Home) suggests a change in strategy. It claims that the Galaxy S26 Exynos variant will be exclusive to Samsung's home market, South Korea.
This means the rest of the world could receive a Samsung Galaxy S26 series powered by Qualcomm's latest Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5. For those unaware, the Galaxy S26 Ultra was already expected to feature the Qualcomm chip globally.
As for the reason, the report cites three primary factors for this decision. Samsung Foundry's potential yield struggles on its 2 nm S2FP process have apparently only reached around 50%. This means the foundry cannot meet the demand to produce substantial Exynos 2600 chipsets. Besides, it appears that Samsung had signed a contract with Qualcomm that at least 75% of Galaxy S series shipments should utilise Snapdragon chipsets.
Lastly, the Snapdragon name has become synonymous with the "better processor" feeling among consumers. Carriers and consumers have shown a strong preference and considering Samsung wants to meet its increased sales deadlines, it's probably under immense pressure to minimise Exynos to maximise sales.
While this move does feel like a win for consumers, it represents another failed attempt on Samsung's part. The brand has already been struggling both capital-wise and due to geopolitical issues, and this introduces further challenges for the firm.
While MediaTek exists, the growing popularity of Qualcomm could lead to a monopoly. Therefore, Samsung Foundry also carries an invisible burden to figure out its logistics before it's too late and users lose all the remaining trust in the business.
If accurate, this move would be a significant win for buyers in regions that traditionally receive the Exynos models, such as India. The Galaxy S26 series is expected to launch next year in the Galaxy Unpacked event, which is rumoured to be scheduled for January 24, 2026.
