Galaxy S27 Ultra Tipped to Skip Exynos 2700 for Snapdragon

Samsung's Exynos 2700 is shaping up to be an impressive chip, but a new insider report suggests the Galaxy S27 Ultra will go with Qualcomm instead.

Every new Galaxy S launch raises the same question: which chipset will power the phones? For the upcoming Galaxy S27 series, a fresh insider tip suggests that Samsung's in-house Exynos 2700 is unlikely to find its way into the flagship Galaxy S27 Ultra. According to the tip, that model is expected to use Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6, while the rest of the lineup would divide its chipsets by region.

Exynos 2700: What We Know So Far

Early reports describe the Exynos 2700 as an outstanding processor. Samsung will manufacture it on SF2P, its second-generation 2nm Gate-All-Around (GAA) process, and the chip is likely to feature ARM C2 CPU cores. Samsung System LSI, the division that designed it, is also advocating for the chip to power the lineup's top flagship.

SF2P 2nm Process: Key Improvements Over SF2

Compared with the first-generation SF2 node used for the Exynos 2600, the SF2P process delivers:

• 12% higher performance
• 25% lower power consumption
• 8% smaller chip area

Taken together, these upgrades are a clear step forward from the node behind the Exynos 2600.

Production Yields and Capacity: Open Questions

Despite the promising technology, questions remain about production yields and manufacturing capacity. Reports indicate that Samsung has ramped up Exynos 2700 output to a level more than 10% above that of the Exynos 2600. That increase is understandable, if only to ensure there are enough chips for the new Galaxy S27 Pro.

Samsung's Balancing Act With Qualcomm

The decision is not purely technical. Samsung has a long-standing strategic relationship with Qualcomm that it needs to uphold, and that has to be weighed against System LSI's push to see the Exynos 2700 in the top flagship. Balancing these interests is far from simple.

Insider Tip: Strong Yields, but No Exynos 2700 for the Ultra

A new insider tip now adds some clarity. The source claims that Exynos 2700 yields are very good, yet the chip is highly unlikely to appear in the Galaxy S27 Ultra. No final decision has reportedly been made, but this scenario is considered the most probable. If it holds, every Galaxy S27 Ultra will ship with the Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6.

Expected Galaxy S27 Chipset Split by Model and Region

The same tip outlines how chipsets are expected to be distributed across the Galaxy S27 family:

• Galaxy S27 Ultra: Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6 in every market
• Galaxy S27, Galaxy S27+ and Galaxy S27 Pro: Exynos 2700 in Europe and Korea, and Snapdragon in China and the US

Final Thoughts

The Exynos 2700 looks like a strong chip, and its yields are reportedly healthy. Even so, the Galaxy S27 Ultra appears headed for Qualcomm silicon, with Exynos powering the other models in Europe and Korea. Because a final decision has apparently not been made, plans could still shift as the launch approaches.