Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 and Higher Cost to Feature in Galaxy S26 Ultra; Exynos 2600 for Base Models
Fresh information has emerged about what Samsung is eyeing for the Galaxy S26 smartphone series: January announcement dates and a February launch for the series. The new series will feature a distinguished processor strategy in which the flagship Galaxy S26 Ultra price is expected.
February Full-Length Launch Timeline Confirmed
Chosun reported that Samsung's launch has been moved forward from possible March. The source of this suspicion was low sales of the "Galaxy S25 Edge." An early good delay was considered, since the having-and-the model was affected by an extended hardware verification period after model changes; however, an insider confirmed that this had been resolved.
A source familiar with the company plans said, "The hardware verification period was extended when the Edge model was removed and the Plus model was added, which almost delayed the launch, but this issue has been resolved, making a February launch possible next year".
Processor Strategy: Clear Divide for Models in S26 Series
Contrary to earlier speculations, Exynos 2600 is not meant to power the entire Galaxy S26 series. Samsung has taken a tiered chipset approach:
- Galaxy S26 Ultra: Will make an exclusive inclusion of Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5.
- Galaxy S26 and S26 Plus: Will mostly be powered by Exynos 2600, Samsung's first 2nm GAA SoC.
Reasons for Chipset Splitting and Pricing Changes
Reserving Qualcomm's chip specifically for the Ultra model may stem from performance difference between Exynos 2600 and Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5. Alternatively, it could be due to the prospective production troubles that the new 2nm process from Samsung will likely face: A previous report indicated low yields, with Samsung allegedly managing only 15,000 monthly wafers of the Exynos 2600, making it too premature for use across all models.
Hence, this will directly affect the price subject. The price of the Galaxy S26 Ultra will likely increase because of the component costs and tariffs associated with the Snapdragon chip. Still, by using its own Exynos chip in the other models, Samsung aims to keep the prices of the base and 'Plus' variants stable, allowing them to remain competitive in the market.
