It seems that Samsung received an expensive wake-up call, after spending about $3 billion on "Qualcomm" processors used in the Galaxy S25 series, prompting it to accelerate the development of its own "Exynos" processors.
Cost of relying on "Qualcomm"
According to reports, "Samsung" fully relied on Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processors in the "Galaxy S25" phones without using any Exynos chip, which significantly raised the costs, especially with estimates suggesting that the price of a single processor reaches about $280, according to a report published by "androidheadlines" and reviewed by "Alarabiya Business".
This full reliance put financial pressure on the company, pushing it to rethink its long-term strategy.
Gradual return to Exynos processors
In an attempt to reduce costs, "Samsung" began introducing the Exynos 2600 processor in some Galaxy S26 phones, where it is currently used in about 25% of the devices, contributing to a reduction in part of the expenses.
It is said that this processor is based on 2-nanometer manufacturing technology, compared to 3-nanometer technology in "Snapdragon" processors, giving "Samsung" an opportunity to compete in terms of performance and efficiency.
Greater ambitions with Galaxy S27
This step seems to be just the beginning, as forecasts indicate that the Exynos 2700 processor might be used in about 50% of Galaxy S27 phones, as part of a broader plan to reduce reliance on "Qualcomm".
In contrast, the cost of the next generation of Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 processors and its advanced version is expected to rise, as they move to more advanced manufacturing technology, increasing pressure on phone manufacturers.
Bet on technological independence
Through this strategy, "Samsung" aims to achieve a balance between performance and cost, while enhancing its independence in the processor market. However, the success of this step will depend on the Exynos processors' ability to provide stable performance and high efficiency, alongside the company's capacity to produce sufficient quantities of them.
While the rate of "Samsung’s" reliance on its processors gradually increases, the most important question remains: Can the company regain users' trust in Exynos, or will Snapdragon continue to hold the advantage?
