Samsung’s rumored next flagship phone, the Galaxy S26, may actually come with quite a powerhouse hiding under the hood: the Exynos 2600. Early leaks about the chipset suggest it may have a 10-core CPU arrangement and a show of muscle in multi-core scenarios — but it’s the latter part that really counts, and there’s no guarantee Lev 5 will outpace Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite 2.
As we’ve seen with previous Galaxy launches, Samsung tends to take a dual chipset approach. This suggests that the regular Galaxy S26 could be equipped with the new Exynos 2600, while more premium models like the Galaxy S26 Ultra and S26 Edge could yet run on the Snapdragon 8 Elite 2, probably in a form that’s tailored for Samsung.
Exynos 2600 Could Be Unveiled With Galaxy S26
A new Geekbench listing, discovered by reputable leaker @Jukanlosreve has offered some hint on the Exynos 2600’s configuration. The leaked information suggest a 10-core CPU, which is significantly more than the 8-core configuration of the present Snapdragon 8 Elite. This includes:
- 1x ARM Cortex-X935 prime core @ 3.55GHz
- 3x ARM Cortex-A730 performance cores @ 2.96GHz
- 6x mid-performance cores @ 2.4GHz
That much of a mix implies a departure in architecture — no more traditional “efficiency” cores and instead optimizing for multi-level performance. It’s like what MediaTek has been trying in chip designs released over the past years.
Exynos 2600 vs Snapdragon 8 Elite 2- Battle of the To-Be Flagship Processors
The most recent batch of leaked Geekbench scores are looking good for the Exynos 2600:
- Single-Core Score: 2,155
- Multi-Core Score: 7,788
The numbers for Samsung’s Exynos 2600 suggest it’s closing that gap—and possibly surpassing it—though the Snapdragon 8 Elite 2 has yet to be benchmarked in the Galaxy S26.
But real-world performance doesn’t always increase with more cores. Optimization, GPU, AI engines and thermals each play a part, and time alone will reveal the whole story.
Snapdragon 8 Elite 2 – Still in the Game?
Samsung is rumored to stick with the Snapdragon 8 Elite 2 for the Galaxy S26 Ultra and maybe an Edge model according to several reports. Interestingly, some insiders have speculated that it may be a Samsung-made variant of the Qualcomm chip — much like how some devices in the past ended up receiving high-performance, overclocked editions.
This leads to speculation:
- Is Samsung’s semiconductor section producing a special model Snapdragon 8 Elite 2?
- Has the Galaxy S26 Ultra getting a higher-clocked edition, or doing cost cutting with a lower spec rating?
This would not be the first time Samsung tweaked a Snapdragon chip. But until the official release — which will probably happen in early 2026 — we can only guess.
What This Means For Galaxy S26 Buyers
Assuming the leaks remain true, Galaxy S26 buyers of the base model should be able to enjoy a super-fast Exynos 2600 chip. And for all the premium-ites, flagshipland will be the probable distillation of the Snapdragon 8 Elite 2, if not in its literalcape-wearing form.
This year’s chip strategy may be one of confidence in its Exynos line, a notable change from in the past, when Exynos chips were commonly thought to be inferior options.
