Samsung may drop Snapdragon from Galaxy S27 Ultra for Exynos
Samsung is considering replacing Qualcomm‘s flagship Snapdragon processor with its own Exynos 2700 in the upcoming Galaxy S27 Ultra after internal tests revealed overheating and performance problems.
The Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6 repeatedly exceeded temperature limits during testing, causing processing speeds to fall under sustained workloads, according to South Korea’s Seoul Economic Daily, citing industry sources.
Samsung reportedly informed Qualcomm of the problems in September and asked the chipmaker to resolve them by mid-October. However, the processor has yet to meet Samsung’s requirements for thermal stability.
The two companies are continuing to work on improvements as Samsung prepares to finalise its processor choice ahead of mass production later this year.
If Qualcomm resolves the problems, the Galaxy S27 Ultra could launch with Snapdragon as originally planned. Otherwise, Samsung may turn to its Exynos 2700 processor to avoid disrupting the phone’s production schedule.
Why Snapdragon’s overheating matters
Qualcomm unveiled the Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6 in September, positioning it as a high-performance processor designed for advanced artificial intelligence features.
The chip focuses on agentic AI, allowing smartphones to recognise user needs and perform multiple tasks with less direct input.
However, overheating can trigger thermal throttling, which automatically reduces processing speeds to prevent damage to the device.
This means a processor that performs well in short tests may struggle to maintain the same performance during extended gaming sessions, video recording or demanding AI tasks.
Samsung’s Ultra models rely heavily on sustained performance for their advanced cameras, graphics and AI capabilities, making temperature management particularly important.
Exynos could return to Galaxy Ultra after five years
If Samsung selects the Exynos 2700, it would mark the return of its in-house processors to the Galaxy Ultra series for the first time since 2022.
The Galaxy S22 Ultra was the last model to feature an Exynos processor in some markets. Since the Galaxy S23 Ultra launched in 2023, Samsung has exclusively used Qualcomm chips in its top-tier smartphones.
The Exynos 2700 is being developed by Samsung’s System LSI division and manufactured using its second-generation 2-nanometre process, known as SF2P. The company aims to improve both processing performance and power efficiency compared with its predecessor.
A switch could also benefit Samsung financially by reducing its reliance on Qualcomm and increasing production at its semiconductor factories.
Samsung’s annual spending on mobile processors rose from 6.21tn won ($4.7bn) in 2021 to 13.83tn won ($10.4bn) in 2025. The company spent another 7.44tn won ($5.6bn) in the first half of 2026.
However, industry sources stressed that Qualcomm has not been ruled out.
Samsung is expected to make its final decision based on performance, heat management, power consumption and production deadlines.
The Galaxy S27 Ultra is expected to launch in early 2027.
