Samsung Galaxy S26 Series Could Mark Return of Exynos Chips in Europe
Samsung Galaxy S26 Exynos Return Rumored, But Only for Europe
Samsung may be planning a Samsung Galaxy S26 Exynos comeback in 2025. A new report suggests that the upcoming Galaxy S26 series could mark the return of Samsung’s in-house chipset—the Exynos 2600—at least in certain markets. After entirely using the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 Elite for Galaxy in the Galaxy S25 series globally due to yield issues with the Exynos 2500, Samsung is now reportedly looking to bring back its Exynos chips for next year’s lineup.
Exynos 2600 Could Power European Galaxy S26 Units
According to sources familiar with the matter, the Exynos 2600 chipset may only appear in the European variants of the Galaxy S26. This wouldn’t be the first time Samsung has launched Exynos-powered models exclusively in Europe, a strategy that has puzzled many fans and tech experts alike.
Unfortunately for European users, history may repeat itself. Leaks indicate the Exynos 2600 is likely to trail behind Qualcomm’s next flagship chip—the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 Elite for Galaxy—in terms of performance and efficiency.
Europe Might Once Again Miss Out on Top-Tier Performance
Samsung has often reserved its Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 Elite chips for markets like the U.S. and South Korea, where consumer expectations and competition are fierce. Meanwhile, European consumers have been left with Exynos versions, which in many cases have underperformed in real-world usage. The decision to use Exynos in Europe has never been clearly explained by Samsung, but it may be due to business strategy, supply logistics, or contractual agreements.
System LSI’s Costly Loss Driving the Change?
The rumored shift could be financially motivated. Samsung’s System LSI division reportedly incurred a loss of around $400 million because the Exynos 2500 wasn’t used in the Galaxy S25 series. To avoid a similar setback, Samsung might be eager to put its new Exynos 2600 chip into production—even if only in select markets like Europe.
What This Means for Galaxy S26 Buyers
If these rumors hold true, consumers in Europe looking to buy the new Galaxy S26 Europe launch models might receive devices with slightly inferior performance. The Exynos vs Snapdragon performance debate is likely to heat up once again, especially if benchmark scores and real-world tests show noticeable differences.
For now, Samsung has not officially confirmed any chipset details for the Galaxy S26 series. However, with the company keen on reducing losses and maximizing its in-house technology, the Exynos 2600 may be closer to reality than expected.
