Samsung’s custom chip efforts haven’t exactly enjoyed smooth sailing. After years of manufacturing setbacks, design changes, and repeated hiatuses, the company is finally aiming to get Exynos back on track. For global customers, that comeback begins with the Galaxy S26, where Samsung’s in-house silicon returns to the flagship lineup.
Exynos has endured a turbulent decade. The Galaxy S23 skipped it entirely due to inconsistent performance, overheating, and poor efficiency, while last year’s Galaxy S series also sidelined it — likely influenced by Qualcomm’s major leap with the Snapdragon 8 Elite, alongside reported low yields from Samsung’s 3nm process. Although an Exynos 2500 did surface in the Z Flip 7, its limited use underscored ongoing challenges. In response, Samsung has restructured its chip design and manufacturing teams, with ambitious plans to revitalize Exynos, including a long-rumored custom GPU for the upcoming Exynos 2800.
