Samsung’s latest flagship chip, the Exynos 2600, built on an advanced 2nm process, might only power Galaxy S26 models sold in South Korea. While the new Exynos promises better efficiency and thermal management thanks to innovations like the “Heat Pass Block,” its global rollout is expected to be very limited.
The reason isn’t just technology. Samsung reportedly has a contract with Qualcomm requiring that at least 75% of Galaxy S series phones use Snapdragon processors. This deal means Samsung can only use the Exynos 2600 in about a quarter of phones, which would mostly be South Korea’s market.
This limited use also reflects persistent skepticism around Exynos chips, which have faced criticisms for overheating, lower production yields, and past security issues, leading many consumers and carriers to prefer Qualcomm’s Snapdragon chips worldwide.
Even with Samsung’s improvements, this mix of business contracts and public perception keeps the Exynos 2600 largely confined to South Korean Galaxy S26 devices. Meanwhile, most global customers will likely continue to receive Snapdragon-powered versions.