In a significant development in the tech world, rumors have circulated regarding Samsung's decision to rely on its own Exynos 2600 chip for the majority of its upcoming Galaxy S26 devices. However, this speculation may be an overstatement, as Qualcomm is still anticipated to power a substantial portion of the Galaxy S26 lineup in 2026.
During Qualcomm's Q4 earnings call, the company was directly questioned about its expectations for the Galaxy S26 series and its ongoing partnership with Samsung in producing chipsets. Qualcomm responded by expressing confidence that it would continue to supply approximately 75% of Galaxy devices in the upcoming year, indicating that it sees no significant changes in its market share. Historically, Qualcomm's share has increased from the typical 50% to a new baseline of about 75%, especially following its success with the Galaxy S25, where it powered 100% of the devices. Qualcomm's assumption for the Galaxy S26 remains firmly set at 75%.
Previous reports had indicated that Samsung was gearing up to integrate the Exynos 2600 chipset into most of its Galaxy S26 devices across various regions. This new System on Chip (SoC) has reportedly shown promising results in pre-release tests, demonstrating competitive performance against Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5. Early benchmarks suggest that the Exynos 2600 may outperform Apple's A19 Pro SoC and is claimed to be up to 6 times faster in AI Neural Processing Unit (NPU) tasks, significantly outpacing the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, which is said to be 30% slower.
As these developments unfolded, initial reports suggested that Samsung would use the Exynos 2600 across all variants of the Galaxy S26, including the high-end Galaxy S26 Ultra. Typically, this strategy applies to markets such as the United States; however, Samsung appeared to be shifting towards a greater reliance on its own chip technology. Yet, Qualcomm's latest remarks imply a different narrative, as the company remains poised to manufacture a significant volume of SoCs for the Galaxy S26 series.
Qualcomm's statement does not confirm any existing orders but suggests that they are prepared to respond based on Samsung's decisions. This nuanced situation indicates that Samsung may be tempering its ambitions to fully transition to the Exynos 2600 chipset. As with most rumors, it's advisable to take these claims with caution, given the contrasting narratives emerging from both companies.
The Galaxy S26 series is projected to launch in January, at which point consumers and industry analysts alike will gain clarity on which chipmaker will ultimately power millions of Samsung's new devices. As the launch approaches, the ongoing dialogue between Samsung and Qualcomm will be closely monitored to understand the future implications for their partnership and the competitive landscape of mobile chip technology.
