The Galaxy S27 Ultra has been widely tipped to launch with the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 Pro, largely because the Galaxy S26 Ultra and several earlier models also relied on Qualcomm silicon. New information, however, suggests the processor could be a bigger talking point than the handset’s controversial camera redesign.
According to a Korean report, Samsung has altered its plans and placed an order for S27 Ultra motherboards fitted with the Exynos 2700. The company is said to be pursuing a two-track strategy, continuing to develop a Snapdragon-powered version alongside the Exynos edition. If accurate, this would mark the first Ultra model to feature an Exynos processor since the Galaxy S22 Ultra.
Which markets could get the Exynos version
It is highly unlikely that Samsung would rely solely on the Exynos 2700 across the Galaxy S27 line-up. As in previous years, buyers in the United States are expected to receive a Snapdragon-equipped model, with the Exynos variant reserved for selected regions.
The standard Galaxy S27 and the Galaxy S27 Plus are almost certain to be Exynos-powered in some markets, mirroring the Galaxy S26 and S26 Plus. Rumours around the Galaxy S27 Pro have been more mixed, though most reports so far indicate the new addition to the range will share the same specifications as the Ultra model.
For those weighing up an upgrade in the meantime, the Galaxy S26 Ultra is currently available at a discount. It will remain the company’s flagship non-foldable for at least a few more months and offers the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for anyone who prefers to avoid Exynos silicon.
Why the Exynos 2700 is drawing attention
Samsung’s decision may seem unexpected, but it appears to be rooted in the reported performance gains of the Exynos 2700. A report from last month claimed the company had been testing the chip against various versions of the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6, with striking outcomes.
The Exynos 2700 reportedly outperformed Qualcomm’s offering across all relevant tests. On the Geekbench 6.5 multi-core benchmark, it was said to be 19% faster than the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 and 9.5% faster than the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 Pro. Its GPU performance was reportedly 5% higher than the Pro Snapdragon, while in a low-power environment that gap widened to 22% against the Pro and 24% against the non-Pro version.
As with any synthetic benchmarks, these figures could be misleading. They do not reflect performance under sustained load, a recurring weakness of earlier Exynos chips, and they compare prototype devices that are typically not representative of the final retail versions. The last Ultra model to carry an Exynos processor was the Galaxy S22 Ultra.
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Image: phonearena.com
