Snapdragon or Exynos for Galaxy S26: Qualcomm sets a bold 75 percent expectation as Samsung readies 2 nm Exynos 2600

The question that has animated every Galaxy rumor mill is simple: will most Galaxy S26 phones run on Snapdragon or Exynos silicon. After months of speculation about a broad Exynos return, Qualcomm has put a clear stake in the ground. During its latest earnings discussion, the San Diego chipmaker said it now models a 75 percent share of application processors for the Galaxy S26 family. That is well above the 50 percent split many expected and a sharp contrast with last season, when Snapdragon powered the entire Galaxy S25 lineup.

The backdrop to this reshuffle is Samsung Foundry’s production journey. Last year’s 3 nm yield challenges reportedly constrained supply of the Exynos 2500, forcing Samsung to lean fully on Snapdragon 8 Elite for S25. Industry estimates suggested Samsung paid hundreds of millions of dollars more than planned to secure the extra Snapdragon units, a decision that ensured consistent performance worldwide but left the Exynos story on pause.

Enter Exynos 2600. Built on Samsung Foundry’s 2 nm Gate All Around process, the new chip is designed to wrap the channel on all sides, curbing leakage while boosting drive current. In plain language, GAA aims to push performance up and power down at the same time. If Samsung ships the S26 family with this processor in select regions, those phones could be among the first commercial handsets using a 2 nm class node. Early internal targets place Exynos 2600 within striking distance of Qualcomm’s latest Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 in general performance, while emphasizing efficiency gains and on device AI throughput.

Qualcomm, for its part, sounds confident that its latest Snapdragon will remain the majority engine inside Samsung’s 2025 flagships. Executives framed 75 percent as the new baseline assumption for any upcoming Galaxy launch. The company already achieved 100 percent share on S25 due to supply realities, but moving to a 75 percent planning range signals that Samsung wants both diversity and predictability in its sourcing strategy.

What does this mean for real buyers. Expect a dual strategy similar to earlier years, with Snapdragon in many markets and Exynos returning in others. The exact split by country or model is not confirmed, but leaks have suggested that even Ultra variants could mix silicon depending on region. Historically, Snapdragon parts have offered very mature modems and steady GPU drivers, while Exynos chips have varied from generation to generation. The 2600 aims to reset that narrative with a step change in efficiency and AI capabilities.

AI is where Samsung’s pitch becomes bolder. Reports around the 2600 claim major advances in NPU horsepower, with some saying the chip outpaces Apple’s current A series Pro in certain on device AI tasks by several multiples. As always, context matters: throughput metrics depend on model size, operators, and memory bandwidth. Still, a stronger NPU would benefit features such as image generation, live translation, and camera enhancement that now define everyday smartphone experiences.

There are practical implications beyond benchmarks. If Exynos 2600’s efficiency lands as promised, Exynos powered S26 units could post better battery life under AI heavy workloads and prolonged camera sessions. Snapdragon variants, meanwhile, typically bring robust carrier aggregation, global band support, and consistent thermals under gaming loads. Either way, the S26 generation looks poised to deliver a smaller performance gap between the two camps than in some previous cycles.

Why might Samsung still lean on Qualcomm for most units if Exynos is improved. Supply assurance and risk management are likely at the top of the list. Flagship launches must hit massive shipment windows. Splitting the load reduces exposure if one node or package line stumbles. There is also marketing symmetry: keeping Snapdragon in core geographies reassures carriers and gamers, while deploying Exynos where supply is strongest allows Samsung to showcase its foundry leadership with an early 2 nm win.

For shoppers, the takeaway is straightforward. Galaxy S26 will almost certainly be a two chip story again, but that no longer has to mean two dramatically different experiences. Watch for battery life, camera behavior, and AI features rather than chasing a single benchmark number. And remember that software updates and thermal tuning can reshape results across the first months after launch.

Bottom line: Qualcomm expects to power roughly three out of four Galaxy S26 phones, while Samsung brings Exynos 2600 back with cutting edge 2 nm GAA technology. That combination should make 2025’s flagship season both more competitive and more interesting, with real choice inside one of the world’s most popular phone families.