Samsung Electronics is set to reintroduce its in-house mobile application processor (AP), Exynos, in the upcoming flagship smartphone, the Galaxy S26.
According to industry insiders on Tuesday, IT tipster Jukanlosreve recently confirmed on X (formerly Twitter) that “Exynos 2600 is definitely back and will be used in the S26.” However, he noted that chip availability would be limited, similar to the Exynos 990 situation.
The AP, a semiconductor that acts as the brain of a smartphone, is expected to utilize Samsung’s cutting-edge 2-nanometer SF2 process. This process, incorporating third-generation gate-all-around (GAA) technology, promises to improve performance by 12%, power efficiency by 25%, and reduce the area by 5% compared to SF3.
Previously, Samsung had employed the Exynos 990 in its Galaxy S20 and Galaxy Note 20 series for most global markets, excluding the United States, China, and Canada. During that period, the company implemented a dual-AP strategy using Qualcomm Incorporated chips in those three countries.
Following the Galaxy S24, Samsung had intended to incorporate Exynos 2500 AP, manufactured by its System LSI division, in the Galaxy S25 series. However, the Galaxy S25 ultimately used Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite chips due to low yield rates. This setback likely contributed to Samsung’s System LSI division’s underperformance, potentially influencing the decision to integrate the Exynos 2600 into the Galaxy S26.
