Galaxy Z Flip 8 may ditch Snapdragon again, Samsung bets big on Exynos 2600: Report

Reports indicate that Samsung may use Exynos chips in at least two of the three Galaxy S26 models.

Samsung appears ready to double down on its in-house chip strategy, with new reports suggesting that the Galaxy Z Flip 8 could once again ship exclusively with an Exynos processor when it launches in 2026. If the leak is accurate, Qualcomm’s Snapdragon chips may be left out of Samsung’s flagship clamshell lineup for a second consecutive year.

Exynos 2600 is expected to be Samsung’s first 2nm mobile processor and a major milestone for its semiconductor division.

By MD Ijaj Khan

Ijaj Khan is a technology journalist and Senior Content Producer at Hindustan Times, with over three years of experience covering the consumer technology industry. His work spans smartphones, laptops, wearables, gaming, appliances and AI - from hands-on reviews, comparison and buying guides to breaking news and in-depth features that help readers cut through the noise and make informed decisions. Before joining HT Tech, he worked with Jagran New Media, where he sharpened his instincts for fast-paced digital reporting. He holds a Post Graduate Diploma in English Journalism and Mass Communication from the Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC), Delhi. Whether he's testing the latest flagship smartphone, tracking a major AI announcement, or putting a gaming laptop through its paces, Ijaj approaches every story with the same goal - making technology feel relevant and easy to understand for everyday users, not just enthusiasts. When he's not in front of a screen for work, he's usually travelling to a new city, hunting for great food, or keeping tabs on what's next in tech before everyone else catches on.

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According to a report by South Korean publication The Bell, cited by tipster Jukan on X, Samsung plans to power the Galaxy Z Flip 8 entirely with the upcoming Exynos 2600. This would follow the approach taken with the Galaxy Z Flip 7, which marked a notable return of Exynos chips in Samsung’s premium foldables after years of mixed strategies across regions.

The Exynos 2600 is expected to be Samsung’s first 2nm mobile processor and a major milestone for its semiconductor division. While Samsung has not officially announced the chip yet, it has begun teasing next-generation Exynos development, signalling confidence in its future roadmap. Early reports suggest that the Exynos 2600 could deliver significant gains, particularly on the graphics side, with claims of up to 29 percent faster GPU performance compared to Qualcomm’s next flagship Snapdragon chip. Its neural processing unit performance is also tipped to outperform both Snapdragon and Apple’s upcoming A-series chips, potentially giving Samsung an edge in on-device AI tasks.

Interestingly, while the Flip series may go all-in on Exynos, Samsung is still expected to use Qualcomm silicon in other foldables. The Galaxy Z Fold 8 is widely rumoured to feature a Snapdragon chipset, likely because the larger display and multitasking focus make gaming and sustained performance more critical on the Fold than on the Flip.

This strategy aligns with broader rumours around the Galaxy S26 series as well. Reports indicate that Samsung may use Exynos chips in at least two of the three Galaxy S26 models in several global markets, further reinforcing the company’s renewed push to make Exynos competitive again.

Samsung’s recent Exynos efforts have not always inspired confidence, but reviews of the Galaxy Z Flip 7 suggested that the Exynos 2500 delivered stable performance, even if it still lagged slightly behind Qualcomm in raw power. With the Exynos 2600, Samsung seems determined to close that gap further.