Samsung is preparing to unveil its new Galaxy S26 series at the beginning of 2026, as it does every year. It’s been reported that the tech giant will prioritize in-house silicon chips for the new phone series, which has been in development for a long time. So, why is Samsung returning to Exynos processors? Here’s why…

The Galaxy S26 series may use the Exynos 2600 due to cost

According to emerging reports, Samsung will use the new 2nm Exynos 2600 processor for at least two models in the S26 series. The reason for using the Exynos chip in these two models, expected to be the Galaxy S26 Pro and S26 Edge (or S26 Air), is claimed to be due to rising costs. However, the top-of-the-line S26 Ultra is expected to use the Snapdragon 8 Elite 2 chipset, which will be unveiled in the coming months.

This move stems from Samsung’s efforts to cope with rising component costs. In the first half of 2025, the DX unit’s chipset procurement costs reportedly increased by 29.2%. This increase is primarily due to the more expensive Snapdragon 8 Elite chips used in the Galaxy S25 series and the popular Galaxy Z Fold 7. Qualcomm’s rising prices and TSMC’s rising costs for 3nm chip production are putting additional pressure on Samsung’s profit margins.

Relying on the company’s in-house 2nm Exynos processors and using them in its devices could significantly reduce Samsung’s costs. This wouldn’t be a first for Samsung. The Galaxy Z Flip 7 was the first foldable phone not to use a Snapdragon with its Exynos 2500 processor.

However, Samsung still faces challenges with chip yield. While the current yield is around 40%, TSMC reportedly has reached 60%. Concerns also persist regarding efficiency and thermal management.

If these hurdles are overcome, the Exynos 2600 is expected to power a large portion of the S26 series. Mass production of the Exynos 2600 is scheduled to begin in November 2025.

So, what are your thoughts on this? Share your thoughts in the comments.