Samsung appears ready to push its Exynos strategy further in 2026, with fresh reports suggesting that the Galaxy Z Flip 8 could once again ship exclusively with an in-house processor. If the claims hold true, Qualcomm may be left out of Samsung’s flagship clamshell lineup for another generation, reinforcing the company’s renewed confidence in its own silicon roadmap.
According to a report cited by industry watchers, Samsung is planning to equip the Galaxy Z Flip 8 solely with the upcoming Exynos 2600 chipset. This would follow the approach taken with the Galaxy Z Flip 7, which marked a notable return to Exynos for Samsung’s foldable portfolio after years of mixed strategies across regions. The move signals that Samsung views the Flip series as a key platform for showcasing its next-generation chips without the direct comparison pressure that comes with parallel Snapdragon variants.
Reports have already suggested that large parts of the Galaxy S26 range could rely on Exynos processors in several global markets. If both the S-series and Flip series move further towards Exynos, it would mark one of Samsung’s strongest commitments yet to its semiconductor division.
What Exynos 2600 may offer
The Exynos 2600 itself has not been formally unveiled, but Samsung has already begun teasing the chip publicly, hinting at major architectural and performance upgrades. Built on a 2nm manufacturing process, the Exynos 2600 is expected to represent a significant leap over its predecessor. Early rumours point to sizeable gains in graphics performance, with claims of up to 29 percent faster GPU output compared to Qualcomm’s next flagship Snapdragon chip. While such figures should be treated cautiously until real-world testing, they suggest Samsung is aiming to close, and potentially narrow, the long-standing performance gap.
Interestingly, those graphics gains may be more visible on Samsung’s larger foldables. The Galaxy Z Fold 8 is expected to use a Snapdragon chipset, where enhanced GPU power could shine on the expansive folding display, particularly for gaming and multitasking. By contrast, the Flip 8’s more compact form factor may be better suited to a tightly optimised Exynos platform focused on efficiency and sustained performance rather than raw power.
Beyond graphics, the Exynos 2600 is also rumoured to deliver strong improvements in neural processing. Reports suggest its NPU performance could surpass both Qualcomm’s upcoming flagship and Apple’s next-generation A-series chip. If accurate, this would align well with Samsung’s growing emphasis on on-device AI features, an area expected to become increasingly important by 2026 as privacy, speed, and offline capabilities take centre stage.
Combined with rumours of a slimmer, more refined Galaxy Z Flip 8 design, Samsung seems intent on positioning the device as a focused, efficient flagship rather than a compromise option. If the Exynos 2600 delivers on its promises, the Flip 8 could play a key role in reshaping perceptions around Samsung’s in-house chips.
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