Key Takeaways
- Samsung will use its own Exynos 2600 chip in Galaxy S26 models
- This marks a major shift from Qualcomm Snapdragon dependency
- India launch expected in early 2025 with premium pricing
Samsung Electronics is set to power its upcoming Galaxy S26 smartphones with its in-house Exynos 2600 processor, according to industry sources. The company’s System LSI division has completed development of the new chip, with supply starting in November.
Exynos 2600 Performance and Features
The Exynos 2600 chipset, designed by Samsung’s semiconductor business, has shown strong performance in internal testing. Company tests indicate it compares favorably with Apple’s A19 Pro processor used in iPhone 17 Pro models.
At least one Galaxy S26 model will feature the Exynos 2600 when the series launches early next year. If the premium Galaxy S26 Ultra includes the chip, it would be the first Ultra model with an in-house processor since the Galaxy S22 series in 2022.
Samsung’s Chip Strategy Shift
This move represents a significant change in Samsung’s approach. The company used Qualcomm Snapdragon chipsets across all Galaxy S23 models, while Exynos appeared only in some S24 variants. Current Galaxy S25, S25 Plus and S25 Ultra models all use Qualcomm processors.
India Launch and Pricing
The Galaxy S26 series is expected to launch in India during January or March 2025. The phones will compete with flagship devices including the iPhone 17 Pro Max.
Industry reports suggest the Galaxy S26 Ultra 5G could be priced around ₹1,59,999 for the base model. The device may feature 12GB RAM with storage options of 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB. Final pricing will likely vary based on storage configuration.
