Samsung has shifted to a 2nm process node for its latest flagship chipset, the Exynos 2600, while Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 still relies on TSMC’s 3nm node. While Exynos chips have struggled with power efficiency and thermal control in the past, this move to 2nm suggested a significant improvement in that area. Early leaks also pointed to notable efficiency gains compared to the Exynos 2500, leading users to expect comparable power efficiency between the Snapdragon and Exynos variants of the Galaxy S26 and S26+.
Unfortunately, recent performance and battery life tests between the two chips, including one from YouTube channel AndroidAddicts, have dampened those expectations for users outside the US and China, where the Galaxy S26 and S26+ are powered by the Exynos 2600.
In a previous test, the Galaxy S26 (Exynos 2600) consumed 40% more power than the OnePlus 15, which is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 and a significantly larger battery. However, what makes this Galaxy S26 vs Galaxy S26 comparison more interesting is that nearly all the hardware, apart from the chipset, remains identical. Performance tuning between the Galaxy S26 and the OnePlus 15 is also quite different, which can heavily influence power consumption. In contrast, it should be nearly identical between the two Galaxy S26 variants.
The test from AndroidAddicts was designed to simulate real-world usage rather than measure peak performance. It included a mix of tasks such as phone calls, video recording, Google Maps navigation, video calls, YouTube, and other social media apps.
The result? The Exynos variant lasted 6 hours and 48 minutes, while the Snapdragon variant reached 9 hours and 26 minutes. That’s a substantial gap for two nearly identical versions of the same flagship. It’s also surprising, given that the 2nm node was expected to deliver better efficiency, and disappointing at the same time, especially since most regions are getting the Exynos variant.
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