Before the Galaxy S26 series, which is anticipated to make its debut at the Galaxy Unpacked event in February 2026, Samsung is already creating headlines. New information concerning the Exynos 2600 chipset has generated much controversy, particularly regarding Samsung’s purported decision to use an external modem rather than an integrated one, even though leaks regarding design and camera advancements are still scarce.
Anyone considering an update to the Galaxy S26 should be aware of this change as it may have significant effects on battery life, power efficiency, and overall performance.
Samsung Galaxy S26 Series: Expected Models and Launch Timeline
According to early reports, Samsung is likely to continue its familiar three-model strategy. The upcoming lineup is expected to include:
- Samsung Galaxy S26
- Samsung Galaxy S26+
- Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
These devices are expected to launch globally in early 2026, continuing Samsung’s annual flagship release cycle. As with previous generations, chipset differences may vary by region, but the Exynos 2600 SoC is widely tipped to power several models.
Exynos 2600: Samsung’s First 2nm Smartphone Chipset
Samsung recently unveiled the Exynos 2600, claiming it to be the world’s first smartphone processor built on a 2nm manufacturing process. This places Samsung ahead of competitors like Qualcomm and MediaTek, whose latest flagship chips still rely on 3nm technology.
The Exynos 2600 uses Gate-All-Around (GAA) transistor architecture, which is designed to improve performance while reducing power leakage. Samsung says this next-generation design allows the CPU, GPU, and NPU to work more efficiently as a unified platform, especially for AI tasks and gaming performance.
On paper, the Exynos 2600 looks like a major leap forward. However, one design choice could offset some of those gains.
External Modem on Exynos 2600: What’s Different This Time?
A trusted tipster, Erencan Yılmaz, has reportedly discovered references in firmware suggesting that the Exynos 2600 will use an external modem, known as the Shannon 5410.
This is a notable change because previous Exynos chips followed a different approach:
- Exynos 2400 → Integrated Shannon 5153 modem
- Exynos 2500 → Integrated Shannon 5163 modem
In those earlier chips, the modem was built directly into the application processor (AP), allowing faster communication and better power management. The Exynos 2600, however, appears to separate the modem from the main processor.
Why Samsung May Have Chosen an External Modem
According to industry sources cited by TheElec, Samsung’s decision likely comes down to chip size and design constraints, rather than a breakthrough in modem technology.
As chips shrink to smaller nodes like 2nm, fitting every component into a single package becomes more complex and expensive. By moving the modem outside the main processor, Samsung may have been able to:
- Keep the Exynos 2600 die size manageable
- Improve production yields
- Reduce manufacturing complexity
However, this design choice does come with trade-offs.
Impact on Power Efficiency and Battery Life
One of the biggest concerns with an external modem is reduced power efficiency. When the modem is integrated, data communication happens within the same chip. With an external modem, signals have to travel between separate components, which typically consumes more power.
Industry experts suggest that this increased communication distance can lead to:
- Slightly higher power draw during mobile data usage
- Reduced efficiency during long 5G sessions
- Potential impact on standby battery performance
While this doesn’t necessarily mean poor battery life, it does mean Samsung needs to compensate in other ways.
Bigger Batteries Could Offset the Efficiency Loss
To balance out the potential power drawback, Samsung is reportedly planning battery upgrades across the Galaxy S26 lineup:
- Galaxy S26: 4,300mAh (up from 4,000mAh)
- Galaxy S26+: 4,900mAh (unchanged)
- Galaxy S26 Ultra: 5,000mAh (unchanged)
The increase in the base model’s battery capacity could help offset the extra power consumption caused by the external modem. Combined with software optimizations and the efficiency gains from the 2nm process, real-world battery life may still see improvements.
Performance, AI, and Gaming: What Users Can Expect
Despite concerns around power efficiency, the Exynos 2600 is expected to deliver strong gains in key areas:
- Faster AI processing for on-device features
- Improved gaming performance with better thermal control
- Enhanced multitasking thanks to advanced CPU scheduling
Samsung has emphasized that its new chip is designed for next-generation AI workloads, which will likely play a major role in One UI features, camera processing, and real-time language tools.
How Exynos 2600 Compares to Snapdragon and MediaTek Chips
Samsung’s biggest rivals are still Qualcomm and MediaTek, whose flagship chips currently use 3nm fabrication. While they may offer better modem integration today, Samsung’s move to 2nm could give it an edge in:
- Transistor density
- Raw performance potential
- Long-term power efficiency improvements
However, actual performance will depend on real-world optimization, thermal management, and how well Samsung balances hardware with software