TL;DR
Samsung plans to equip the Galaxy S26 family with two region-specific processors: Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 and Samsung's new Exynos 2600. Samsung is pitching the 2600 as a major leap — a 2nm design with changes across CPU, GPU, AI and thermal management — while Qualcomm's chip continues to push performance and power-efficiency on a 3nm node.
What happened
Samsung is expected to follow its usual regional split for the Galaxy S26 series, pairing Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 with Samsung's in-house Exynos 2600 in different markets. The Exynos 2600 is presented by Samsung as a substantial overhaul: it reportedly uses a 2nm GAA process, adopts ARM v9.3 cores in a 10-core layout, introduces a Samsung Xclipse 960 GPU, switches to an external Exynos Modem 5410 and adds a new Heat Path Block for improved dissipation. Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 runs on TSMC's 3nm process, retains custom Oryon CPU cores in an 8-core design and pairs with an Adreno 840 GPU and an integrated Snapdragon X85 modem. Both chips include dedicated AI hardware and support LPDDR5X and UFS 4.1, but performance, thermals and real-world AI behavior will need independent testing once devices ship.
Why it matters
- Different SoCs in regional variants can lead to measurable differences in performance, thermals and battery life for the same phone model.
- If Samsung's 2nm claims hold up in practice, it could narrow the long-standing gap with Qualcomm in flagship silicon.
- Upgrades to on-device AI horsepower may enable more advanced local models and privacy-focused features.
- Changes in modem architecture and thermal design could affect connectivity reliability and sustained performance under heavy loads.
Key facts
- Samsung plans to use both the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 and the Exynos 2600 across Galaxy S26 variants.
- Exynos 2600 is claimed by Samsung to be the industry's first 2nm smartphone chipset built on a GAA 2nm node.
- Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 uses TSMC's 3nm process and Qualcomm's 3rd-gen Oryon custom CPU cores.
- CPU layouts differ: Snapdragon — 8 cores (2x@4.60GHz + 6x@3.62GHz); Exynos — 10 cores (1x@3.8GHz + 3x@3.25GHz + 6x@2.75GHz).
- GPU specifics: Snapdragon uses Adreno 840 (up to 1.2GHz); Samsung ships an Xclipse 960 GPU and claims double the previous gen GPU performance and 50% better ray tracing.
- Both chipsets support LPDDR5X memory and UFS 4.1 storage standards.
- AI hardware: Qualcomm touts a Hexagon NPU ~37% faster than its predecessor; Samsung claims a 113% AI performance uplift and support for large on-device models.
- Modems: Snapdragon integrates the X85 5G modem (claimed peak 12.5 Gbps downlink); Exynos 2600 pairs with an external Exynos Modem 5410 (claimed up to 14.79 Gbps downlink).
- Samsung introduced a Heat Path Block (HPB) in the Exynos 2600 to improve heat dispersion; Snapdragon-based phones typically rely on larger vapor chambers in devices.
What to watch next
- Independent performance and battery-life benchmarks comparing the two chips once Galaxy S26 units are available — not confirmed in the source.
- Real-world thermal behavior and sustained performance under heavy workloads to validate Samsung's HPB claims — not confirmed in the source.
- How manufacturers and Samsung utilize the chips' AI capabilities and modem features in finished phones — not confirmed in the source.
Quick glossary
- System on Chip (SoC): A single integrated circuit that combines CPU, GPU, memory controllers, modem and other components used to run a smartphone.
- NPU (Neural Processing Unit): A specialized processor within an SoC optimized for accelerating machine learning and AI tasks on-device.
- 2nm / 3nm process: Semiconductor manufacturing node sizes; smaller nodes can improve efficiency and performance, though real-world gains vary.
- External modem: A cellular modem packaged separately from the main SoC, used to handle mobile connectivity rather than being integrated into the chip.
- Heat Path Block (HPB): A hardware design element intended to draw heat away from a chip and distribute it across a device to help manage temperatures.
Reader FAQ
Will the Exynos 2600 outperform the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5?
Not confirmed in the source; Samsung and Qualcomm both make performance claims, but independent benchmarks are needed.
Are both chips supporting the same memory and storage standards?
Yes. Both are listed as supporting LPDDR5X memory and UFS 4.1 storage in the source.
Does the Exynos 2600 use a built-in modem like prior Samsung chips?
No. The Exynos 2600 pairs with an external Exynos Modem 5410, marking a change from Samsung's historical integrated-modem approach.
When will we get real-world comparisons?
The source says more definitive answers will come after the Galaxy S26 series is officially released and devices begin shipping.
Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 vs. Exynos 2600: The chips powering 2026 flagships Credit: Lucas Gouveia / Android Police By Sanuj Bhatia Published 9 minutes ago Sanuj is a tech enthusiast…
Sources
- Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 vs. Exynos 2600: The chips powering 2026 flagships
- Exynos 2600 vs Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5
- A New Geekbench 6 Test Shows Samsung Exynos 2600 …
- Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 Vs Exynos 2600: Who's The Boss?
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