The Exynos 2600 just popped up again on Geekbench, and this time, the numbers look strong. If this holds up, Samsung’s next flagship chip could finally stand toe-to-toe with Qualcomm’s best.

Exynos 2600 scores rival Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5

In its latest benchmark run, the Exynos 2600 earned 3,455 points in single-core and 11,621 in multi-core tests. That puts it right in line with the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 and MediaTek’s Dimensity 9500.

These results came from a reference device, not a retail-ready phone. Still, it shows that Samsung is closing the performance gap with its rivals and that’s a big shift.

Final core layout appears locked in

This version of the Exynos 2600 shows a finalized core layout:

• 1 prime core at 3.80 GHz
• 3 performance cores at 3.26 GHz
• 6 efficiency cores at 2.76 GHz

That’s a familiar 1+3+6 setup, similar to Qualcomm’s layout in recent chips. But Samsung has struggled in the past to get comparable real-world performance out of similar specs.

A much-needed win for Exynos 2600

Exynos processors have lagged behind Qualcomm’s offerings for years, especially in thermal efficiency and sustained performance. Early signs from the Exynos 2600, however, suggest that it may finally be changing.

This chip is expected to power some Galaxy S26 models likely in markets like Europe and Asia. Meanwhile, the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 will continue to appear in North American variants.

Better benchmarks, but no victory yet

Of course, benchmarks aren’t everything. Real-world testing will reveal how the Exynos 2600 handles heat, battery drain, and GPU workloads.

But this score jump is a clear signal: Samsung’s chip division isn’t sitting still.

Galaxy S26 could ignite the next chip rivalry

If Samsung delivers consistent results across production models, the Exynos 2600 may kickstart a proper flagship showdown next year. And after years of lopsided competition, that’s a fight worth watching.