Samsung Galaxy S26

Samsung Galaxy S26 Series Could Mark Return of Exynos Chips — But Only in Europe

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After skipping its in-house chips for the current Galaxy S25 lineup, Samsung may bring back its Exynos SoC in next year’s Galaxy S26 series, according to new reports. The rumored Exynos 2600 chipset could power select variants of the S26 models, while the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 “Elite 2” for Galaxy would continue to be used globally — except in Europe, which may once again be the only region to receive Exynos-powered devices.

Samsung Galaxy S26 Series

🔁 Exynos Returns in 2026 — But Only Partially

The Galaxy S25 lineup launched globally with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (Elite for Galaxy) chipset due to poor yield and production issues with the Exynos 2500. That decision reportedly cost Samsung’s System LSI division around $400 million, prompting the brand to reconsider its Exynos strategy.

If the leaks are accurate, Exynos 2600 will debut with the Galaxy S26 series, but limited to European models. This would continue a long-standing trend where Samsung ships Exynos variants to Europe and Snapdragon versions elsewhere — a move that has long frustrated power users in the region due to noticeable performance and efficiency differences.

⚙ Snapdragon 8 Elite 2 vs. Exynos 2600

Though technical details remain scarce, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 “Elite 2” is reportedly ahead of the Exynos 2600 in both performance and thermal efficiency, according to early leaks. If this holds true, European consumers could once again face a hardware performance gap, particularly in gaming, battery life, and camera processing.

🧩 Why Europe?

Samsung has never officially explained its preference for launching Exynos models exclusively in Europe. Some industry watchers believe it’s due to:

  • Patent and modem licensing limitations in other regions

  • Cost optimization in markets with tighter margins

  • Less scrutiny and lower consumer pushback in European markets compared to the U.S. or South Korea

💰 System LSI’s $400M Loss Pressures Samsung

Samsung’s System LSI division, which designs the Exynos SoCs, reportedly faced $400 million in losses after the Exynos 2500 was pulled from the Galaxy S25 series. To prevent a repeat, Samsung may be forced to deploy the Exynos 2600 in some capacity, even if it means limiting it to a single region like Europe.

📱 Summary: Galaxy S26 Chip Strategy (Rumored)

Region Chipset Likely Used
Europe Exynos 2600
Global (incl. US, Korea, India) Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 Elite 2

Samsung has yet to confirm any details officially. The Galaxy S26 lineup is expected to be unveiled in early 2026, with the chip strategy likely to play a crucial role in user sentiment and sales performance across regions.

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Ganpat Singh Chouhan
Ganpat Singh Chouhan
My name is Ganpat Singh Choughan. I am an experienced content writer with 7 years of expertise in the field. Currently, I contribute to Daily Kiran, creating engaging and informative content across a variety of categories including technology, health, travel, education, and automobiles. My goal is to deliver accurate, insightful, and captivating information through my words to help readers stay informed and empowered.