Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 to Power Majority of Samsung Galaxy S26 Lineup, Confirms Qualcomm
Samsung’s Galaxy S26 series is expected to make its debut early next year, and reports indicate that the company will once again adopt a dual-chip strategy for its flagship smartphones. The lineup will reportedly include the Galaxy S26, Galaxy S26+, and Galaxy S26 Ultra, each powered by either Qualcomm’s latest Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 or Samsung’s own Exynos 2600 chipset. However, new statements from Qualcomm’s leadership suggest that the Snapdragon chip will continue to dominate across most global markets, with the Exynos variant reserved for select regions.
Qualcomm President and CEO Cristiano Amon discussed the company’s partnership with Samsung during its Q4 earnings call. Amon revealed that Qualcomm expects to supply chips for roughly 75 percent of all Galaxy S26 devices, maintaining the same ratio seen in recent flagship launches. This reflects a continuation of the close collaboration between the two tech giants, which has strengthened in recent years as Samsung increasingly relies on Qualcomm’s top-tier silicon for its global smartphone lineup.
Amon reportedly highlighted that the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 will be the primary chipset powering the Galaxy S26 series worldwide. He stated that Qualcomm’s “new baseline” share of Samsung’s premium lineup now sits at about 75 percent, up from the 50-50 split that existed several years ago. “On Galaxy S25, we got 100 percent,” Amon noted, adding that while some regional models may use the Exynos 2600, Qualcomm remains confident in its majority share for the upcoming flagship series.
This development suggests that most Galaxy S26 buyers, particularly in markets like the United States, India, and parts of Europe, can expect their devices to be equipped with the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5. The Exynos 2600, meanwhile, is likely to power only limited regional variants, possibly in Samsung’s home market of South Korea or select European countries. As both chipmakers continue to push advancements in AI, performance, and efficiency, Samsung’s dual-chip approach may offer valuable insights into how the two platforms compare in real-world usage when the Galaxy S26 series officially launches in 2025.