Samsung Galaxy S26 Series: Anticipated Chipset Configurations and Potential Pricing Adjustments
Samsung is anticipated to unveil its Galaxy S26 series in February. Recent reports suggest a strategic deployment of its Exynos chipset in select global markets. Specifically, the Galaxy S26 and S26+ models are projected to feature the Exynos 2600 in regions including South Korea and Europe. Conversely, North America is expected to receive variants equipped with the Snapdragon 8 Gen Elite 5 processor. The Galaxy S26 Ultra is rumored to universally incorporate the Snapdragon chipset across all regions.
A recent report published by the South Korean publication ChosunBiz, based on industry sources, indicates ongoing negotiations between Samsung Electronics’ System LSI and MX divisions. These discussions revolve around a potential price reduction for the Exynos 2600, ranging from $20 to $30 per unit.
This adjustment does not necessarily imply a corresponding decrease in the retail price of Exynos 2600-equipped Galaxy S26 devices relative to their Snapdragon 8 Gen Elite 5 counterparts. Instead, the initiative is likely aimed at enhancing Samsung’s profit margins per unit for devices utilizing the Exynos 2600.
Preliminary benchmarking data suggests promising performance metrics for the Exynos 2600, although the translation of these results into real-world user experience remains to be validated. The Exynos 2600 is slated to be manufactured using Samsung’s 2nm process technology and is anticipated to feature a deca-core CPU configuration, structured as 1+3+6, with a peak clock speed of 3.8GHz. Initial data suggests the Exynos 2600 could outperform the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 by 29% in the GPU department. Further, some sources claim the Exynos 2600 could offer a 14% performance increase in the CPU and a 75% increase in GPU speed compared to the Apple A19 Pro chip found in the iPhone 17 Pro models.
Source: ChosunBiz (Korean)
