Samsung may be preparing to lean more heavily on its in-house silicon for the upcoming Galaxy S26 series, with a new report suggesting a cost-driven return to Exynos processors.
According to South Korean media cited by SamMobile, Samsung plans to equip at least two models in the S26 family — likely the Galaxy S26 Pro and S26 Edge (or S26 Air) — with the new 2nm Exynos 2600. The top-tier S26 Ultra, however, is still expected to use Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite 2.
The move comes as Samsung faces higher component expenses. In the first half of 2025, chipset procurement costs for its DX division reportedly rose 29.2%, largely due to pricier Snapdragon 8 Elite chips used in the Galaxy S25 series and the popular Galaxy Z Fold 7. Qualcomm’s rising prices, combined with TSMC’s higher production costs for 3nm chips, have put extra pressure on Samsung’s margins. By relying more on its own 2nm Exynos, built at Samsung’s foundry, the company could cut costs significantly while still offering competitive performance thanks to a 10-core CPU design and improved power efficiency.
This wouldn’t be Samsung’s first step back toward Exynos. The Galaxy Z Flip 7 shipped earlier this year with the Exynos 2500, marking the first foldable to move away from Snapdragon. That said, Samsung still faces challenges with chip yields — currently around 40%, compared to TSMC’s 60% — along with concerns around efficiency and thermals.
If those hurdles are addressed, the Exynos 2600 could power most of the S26 range. Mass production of the Exynos 2600 is reportedly scheduled for November 2025. For Samsung, adopting its own chip in the S26 is about more than cost savings — it’s also a way to strengthen its semiconductor business and reduce reliance on external suppliers. Whether the Exynos 2600 can match Snapdragon in real-world performance will be key to how this strategy plays out when the Galaxy S26 launches in early 2026.
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