Snapdragon Galaxy S26 Ultra Beats Exynos S26 in Early Benchmarks

Benchmarks show Snapdragon variant outperforms Exynos counterpart

The Galaxy S26 series is slated to be announced later this month, and early benchmark listings have surfaced for the Galaxy S26 Ultra and Galaxy S26. The information suggests a performance split between the Snapdragon powered Ultra and the Exynos powered standard model, reflecting a gap between Qualcomm and Samsung’s in-house silicon in certain markets. The report notes that the Snapdragon variant of the S26 Ultra delivers stronger single core performance in initial tests when compared with the Exynos powered S26. These findings come as part of a broader preview of how the two chip families perform in similar devices, ahead of any official confirmation from Samsung.

According to a report by TechManics, benchmark results indicate that the Snapdragon variant of the purported Galaxy S26 Ultra outperforms the Exynos powered Galaxy S26 in single core tests. The implications, in the context of a dual chip strategy that has appeared in prior generations, point to regional differences in which chip is deployed and how performance is perceived by early observers. While the Ultra shows strength in single core workloads, the balance between single and multi-core performance remains nuanced across listings.

According to similar models, both the Galaxy S26 Ultra is to have a version of Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 created just for this phone and released throughout the world. The Galaxy S26 standard and Plus will have either Qualcomm or Exynos depending on where in the world someone buys the phone. This matches what Samsung has been doing for many years in releasing Snapdragon phones in the US and China and Exynos in other locations around the world. The timing and specifics of official confirmation remain under wraps as the launch approaches.

Chip configurations and regional variants

Details circulating in the leaks sketch a contrast between the two processors, with the Snapdragon chip and the Exynos chip designed for different regional supply chains.According to the specifications on various websites, Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 will contain a custom-designed high-speed processing core capable of being operated at a maximum frequency of 4.74 GHz and will include an architecture that combines the aforementioned two performance and efficiency clusters into a single power efficiency unit.

The listing further states that the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 is available with two (2) prime processing cores paired with six (6) performance processing cores using a layout of two (2) + six (6) processing cores. On the other hand, the Exynos 2600 is said to be built on a 2nm Gate All Around process and to use a 10-core CPU configuration, described as a 1 plus 3 plus 6 layout, comprising one high-performance core, three performance cores, and six efficiency cores. These specifics are taken from the benchmarks and listings associated with the two devices and have not been independently verified by Samsung at this time.

In the Geekbench 6 listing believed to belong to the Snapdragon S26 Ultra, the single-core score is listed at 3,710 and the multi-core score at 11,284. For the Galaxy S26, the single-core score is listed at 3,336 with a multi-core score of 11,369. The numbers illustrate a difference in single-core potency for everyday tasks and multitasking workloads, though multi-core performance remains very close between the two models in the data currently circulating. Readers should note that benchmark listings are not official specifications and should be treated as indicative rather than definitive untilSamsung confirms details.

The overall takeaway from the listings is that Samsung’s dual-chip strategy may continue to create regional performance expectations that vary by market. The pattern has echoes of past years, where the company has shipped Snapdragon variants in the US and China, while routing Exynos silicon to other regions, including Europe and parts of Asia. As the official unveiling approaches, observers will be watching for whether Samsung clarifies its regional strategy or unveils any changes to its chipset distribution for the Galaxy S26 family.

The Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for the Galaxy S26 Ultra will be fast and give you the best performance in intense situations. The Exynos 2600 will use a 2nm process with ten cores; this will provide a different kind of performance within its family. This information has been provided solely from the referenced listings and TechManics report; it is neither verified nor denied by Samsung or its OEM partners. For specifications and where the phone will be sold, check back for updates from Samsung or its partners.

• The Snapdragon variant of the Galaxy S26 Ultra: will be based around the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 CPU that will have a maximum speed of 4.74GHz and will feature a 2+6 core design (two prime cores + six performance cores).
• Galaxy S26 (Exynos 2600): 2nm Gate All Around process, 10-core CPU configuration with 1+3+6 layout (one high-performance, three performance, six efficiency cores).