Samsung’s chip strategy for the Galaxy S26 series, set for early 2026, will echo its Galaxy S24 approach, using the Exynos 2600 for global S26 and S26+ variants and the Snapdragon 8 Elite 2 for the S26 Ultra worldwide and all models in the US, Japan, South Korea, and China. The 8th generation foldables will also pack the 8 Elite 2, but there’s a twist.
Samsung’s chip strategy for its upcoming flagships
The Galaxy S26 series chip plan revives Samsung’s dual-chip strategy after the Snapdragon-exclusive S25 series, driven by Exynos 2500’s yield issues. A recent report out of South Korea claims the Exynos 2600, built on Samsung’s 2nm SF2 node with GAA FET architecture, will power the S26 and S26+ (or S26 Edge) in regions like Europe and Asia, while the Snapdragon 8 Elite 2, made on TSMC’s 3nm N3P node, will fuel the S26 Ultra globally and the entire lineup in key markets. This mirrors the S24’s split, where the S24 Ultra used Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 worldwide, but the S24 and S24+ had Exynos 2400 in most regions.
Notably, the Snapdragon 8 Elite 2 “For Galaxy” will be manufactured using Samsung’s 2nm process, rather than TSMC’s. Qualcomm previously partnered with Samsung Foundry for the Snapdragon 888 and 8 Gen 1, but later returned to TSMC despite the higher costs—primarily due to performance and efficiency requirements. Will the 8th-generation foldables face similar issues as those earlier flagships? Only time will tell.
The Exynos 2600 and the 8 Elite 2 For Galaxy’s theoretical edge lies in its 2nm process, but TSMC’s N3P has historically outperformed Samsung’s nodes. Qualcomm’s dual-sourcing mainly aims to cut costs, as TSMC’s 3nm wafers are significantly pricier, reportedly priced at around $18,000 per wafer last year.
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