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Qualcomm Expects to Power Most Galaxy S26 Phones as Samsung Touts AI and Custom Chip

The guidance resets expectations for Samsung’s dual‑chip plan ahead of a reported late‑February reveal.

Overview

  • On its Q4 earnings call, Qualcomm said it assumes supplying about 75% of Galaxy S26 chips after taking 100% of S25, implying roughly a 25% share for Samsung’s Exynos 2600.
  • Samsung executive Daniel Araujo officially teased next‑generation, user‑centric AI, a second‑generation custom application processor, and new camera sensors for the S26 lineup.
  • Leaked Exynos 2600 details point to a revamped imaging pipeline supporting a single 320MP sensor, up to four concurrent streams, and 8K video at 60fps with HDR10+, though reports suggest some capabilities may not be enabled in shipping phones to maintain feature parity across chip variants.
  • Multiple outlets report the S26 Ultra may largely reuse S25 Ultra camera hardware with a revised 3x telephoto, even as prominent leakers publicly disagree on that sensor’s resolution and size; software leaks point to a new 24MP default mode, Adaptive Pixel noise reduction, and a focus speed slider.
  • Renders and screen‑protector images indicate a more rounded S26 Ultra design, and reports cite a February 25 Unpacked in San Francisco with South Korea sales possibly slipping into early March.