Galaxy S26 Processor Divide Returns After Samsung's $400 Million Snapdragon Gamble

The post Galaxy S26 Processor Divide Returns After Samsung's $400 Million Snapdragon Gamble appeared first on Android Headlines.

May 5, 2025 - 11:17

Here we go again, Snapdragon or Exynos, that is the question. Every year, rumors regarding new Samsung Galaxy S series smartphones arrive, and every year both Snapdragon and Exynos are a part of them. Well, a new one has just surfaced, claiming that the Galaxy S26 series will be fueled by both Snapdragon and Exynos chips, thus bringing back the processor divide.

The processor division could return with the Galaxy S26 series, unfortunately

As you may have guessed, the chip use will differ by region. So, based on what is said here, the Galaxy S26 series will utilize the Exynos 2600 chip only in Europe. A Snapdragon version will be available everywhere else.

Why only in Europe? Well, the source claims it’s because of yield constraints on the 2nm process for the Exynos 2600. This would not be the first time Samsung opted to ship Exynos variants of its flagship phones only to Europe, not at all. It happened with the Galaxy S phones in the past.

Users in Europe were not to happy with this move in the past

Users in Europe were not too happy, though. Why? Well, in the past, Exynos chips were always a step behind their Snapdragon counterparts, one way or the other. Most complaints related to battery life and general performance, though different camera processing also had something to do with it.

Will the same happen with the Galaxy S26 series? Well, it remains to be seen. We don’t really know what to expect out of the Exynos 2600, or how will it compete with the Snapdragon 8 Elite 2.

Samsung skipped the Exynos 2500 entirely

What we do know is that Samsung skipped the Exynos 2500 entirely, which is why the entire Galaxy S25 series is fueled by the Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy processor.

That move cost Samsung a lot of money. The company is estimated to have taken a loss of around $400 million because of this move. Samsung will want to change things around next year, that’s for sure. It remains to be seen if it will succeed or not.

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