Samsung’s decision to rely solely on the Snapdragon 8 Elite for the Galaxy S25 series stems from the disappointing yields of the Exynos 2500 and an acknowledgment that their SoC couldn’t compete with Qualcomm’s top-tier chip. This move has significantly increased the company’s component costs and resulted in a $400 million setback. Looking to the future, Samsung plans to introduce the Exynos 2600, but reports suggest it will be featured in only a few Galaxy S26 models.
There’s speculation that European releases of the Galaxy S26 series might exclusively feature the Exynos 2600. This hints at Samsung’s desire to showcase their flagship SoC, despite the production challenges. During the company’s Q1 2025 earnings call, Samsung reiterated its goal to stabilize 2nm GAA yields, aiming for mass production by the latter half of 2025. Earlier trial production of the Exynos 2600 in February showed a promising 30 percent yield, a substantial improvement over previous technologies. Achieving a 60 percent yield is the target for full-scale manufacturing.
A credible tipster, @Jukanlosreve, suggests that due to limited shipments from low yields, the Exynos 2600 might only appear in European Galaxy S26 models. Further insights from an industry insider predict that although the Exynos 2600 will power some new flagships, the upcoming Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 2 will still outperform it, highlighting the strategic intent to cut rising chipset costs rather than performance.
In the chatter on social platforms, discussions highlight that Samsung LSI, responsible for the Exynos 2500, faced significant financial losses by excluding this chip from the Galaxy S25. It’s projected that the Exynos 2600 design must be finalized by Q3 2025 to possibly feature in the Galaxy S26 models. Time is a crucial factor for Samsung as they navigate this competitive landscape.
