Samsung is yet to reveal the Galaxy S26 lineup, but it is apparently already thinking about its successor. After hearing that it may feature a new face unlock system, now we have a rumor about the chipset of the Galaxy S27 Ultra, and you’re probably not going to like it.
Galaxy S27 Ultra may feature an Exynos chip
Samsung’s semiconductor division may be making meaningful progress with the development and production of the Exynos chips, which could lead to drastic changes for the Galaxy S27 Ultra. According to Kim Yong-seok, distinguished professor at Gachon University’s College of Semiconductors, the company has improved the design and yield rates of its 2 nm process manufacturing, which could allow it to use Exynos chips in all Galaxy S27 Ultra devices. “As Samsung expands the use of its own AP (application processor), its negotiating power with Qualcomm will also improve,” said (translated source) the professor to Korean publication ChosunBiz.That move would be a change from Samsung’s approach with the Galaxy S26 series. The company is rumored to use the Exynos 2600 only for the Galaxy S26 and S26 Plus, while the Galaxy S26 Ultra may feature the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5. According to industry sources, the higher prices of Qualcomm’s chips could lead to a price increase for the Ultra model.
A strategic win for Samsung
Galaxy S22 Ultra was the last time Samsung used an Exynos chip on an Ultra model. | Image credit – PhoneArena
For years, Samsung intended to rely more on its own chipsets, but the last time an Ultra model featured an Exynos processor was the Galaxy S22 Ultra. Both internal and market factors have forced the company to go all-in with Qualcomm for the S26 Ultra, but its progress could finally help it achieve greater independence.
Once that happens, Samsung will join some of its main competitors by using in-house chips on its flagship devices. Apple is famously relying on the A-series processors for the iPhone, while Google’s Tensor chips power the Pixel devices. Forced by external factors, Huawei is also using its own Kirin processors for its devices.
Users shouldn’t care
I’d love to see an Exynos chip that could compete with Qualcomm’s best, and I think that would help Samsung put the whole Snapdragon vs. Exynos debate to rest. For that to happen, the Galaxy S27 needs to perform at least as well as any other competing ultra flagship, which is not a small task. On the other side, if there’s one company that has the capacity to achieve it, that’s probably Samsung.
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Ilia, a tech journalist at PhoneArena, has been covering the mobile industry since 2011, with experience at outlets like Forbes Bulgaria. Passionate about smartphones, tablets, and consumer tech, he blends deep industry knowledge with a personal fascination that began with his first Nokia and Sony Ericsson devices. Originally from Bulgaria and now based in Lima, Peru, Ilia balances his tech obsessions with walking his dog, training at the gym, and slowly mastering Spanish.
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