Samsung’s Exynos chips haven’t always kept up with Snapdragon in camera performance, but the upcoming Exynos 2600 in the Galaxy S26 could change that. If recent leaks prove accurate, the new chip may deliver a serious leap in imaging capability, potentially shifting the long-standing gap between the two platforms.
Samsung Galaxy S26 may benefit from redesigned image processing
According to a well-known, albeit controversial leaker, the Exynos 2600 is being built with a completely reworked ISP-NPU pipeline. That means the image signal processor (ISP) and neural processing unit (NPU) will work more efficiently together, enabling new AI camera features and professional-grade output.
If true, this would address a long-running weak point for Exynos chips. Past comparisons like the Snapdragon vs. Exynos showdown in the Galaxy S22 Ultra highlighted inferior low-light video and ISP-related image quality on Samsung’s in-house silicon. Samsung fans in regions like Europe, where Exynos models are often standard, may finally get flagship-level imaging without compromise.
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Exynos 2600 camera features leak shows major potential
Here’s what the Exynos 2600 ISP is rumored to support:
- Processing of 320 MP from a single sensor
- Parallel capture of three 108 MP images
- 14-bit RAW pipeline with 5x frame HDR fusion
- 8K video recording and 4K120 HDR10+ capture
- 30 FPS burst shooting at 108 MP RAW
- AI scene segmentation and super-res zoom
- Real-time hybrid OIS + AI-EIS stabilization
- Bandwidth between ISP and NPU up to 1.8 TB/s
- 30% lower power consumption vs Exynos 2400
These specs hint at a high-end imaging experience, one that rivals or even surpasses the camera capabilities seen in Snapdragon-powered phones at least on paper.
Samsung Galaxy S26 might use Exynos globally
Leakers also suggest Samsung could roll out the Exynos 2600 across the entire Galaxy S26 lineup, at least in markets like Europe. That means the base S26, S26+, and possibly even the Ultra model could all run on the new 2nm chip.
Naturally, this move would reignite the Exynos vs. Snapdragon debate especially if Samsung claims performance parity. Earlier Geekbench leaks hinted at strong single-core and multi-core scores, but the ISP will be key to winning back users frustrated by camera quality gaps in past Exynos devices.
Exciting on paper, but skepticism remains
Still, it’s worth keeping expectations in check. The leaker behind this info has shared several unconfirmed or disputed benchmarks in recent months. While these camera specs are ambitious, they haven’t been officially verified. Samsung-friendly leaks have also been a source of false rumors lately, including a recent Galaxy S26 spec sheet that turned out to be fake.
Samsung Galaxy S26 could rewrite the Exynos story
If even part of this leak holds up, the Exynos 2600 could be Samsung’s most important chip in years. A real improvement in camera processing combined with better efficiency and thermal control, might finally close the Snapdragon gap. But until hard data lands, proceed with cautious optimism.
