Many of you know that Samsung usually employs a dual-chip strategy for its flagship Galaxy S series every year. In some markets, the base Galaxy S model, and the Galaxy S+ models are powered by Samsung’s Exynos application processor (AP) and in other regions, these same phones are equipped with Qualcomm’s latest flagship Snapdragon AP. The top-of-the-line Galaxy S Ultra model always gets the Snapdragon chipset.
Twice in recent memory Samsung had to abandon the dual-chip strategy for its flagship line
In 2023 and in 2025, Samsung powered the entire Galaxy S series, regardless of region, with the latest flagship Snapdragon AP. The first time, Samsung decided to skip production of the Exynos 2300 because of overheating issues experienced the previous year with the Exynos 2200 AP.
This year’s Galaxy S26 series returned to using the dual-chip strategy
Samsung “flips the script” by saving money using Qualcomm silicon on its 2026 clamshell
It does because of an internal battle between two Samsung units. Samsung Mobile, the part of the company that builds the phones, is squabbling with Samsung LSI, the business segment responsible for the chips. The latter has aggressively raised the price per Exynos 2600 AP to $270 in part due to low yields and the high costs required to develop the chip.
The Exynos 2600 is a competitive AP. | Image by Samsung
On the other hand, Qualcomm has turned to using a “Christmas in July” attitude. Due to concerns about it losing business to a darn good and competitive Exynos 2600 chipset, Qualcomm lowered the price of the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 to $230 per unit. Remember, last year’s Galaxy clamshell units were all powered by the Exynos 2500.
What to expect under the hood of the Galaxy Z Flip 8
That means to expect the Exynos 2600 to power the Galaxy Z Flip 8 everywhere except for the United States, Canada, Japan, and China. In those markets, the 2026 Galaxy clamshell would have the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 under the hood.
I seriously have to give Samsung Foundry a ton of credit here. It wasn’t that long ago that the Exynos name brought to mind hot summer days in Miami, three-alarm fires, and that frozen dinner you accidentally microwaved for 2 hours (I could have mentioned the Galaxy Note 7 in the examples).
