Samsung Exynos starting to take back ground from Snapdragon

Samsung Exynos division is showing signs of recovery as Qualcomm’s Snapdragon smartphone chipset shipments came under pressure in the second quarter of 2026.

According to the latest data from Counterpoint Research, Samsung was among the few major SoC vendors to grow during the period, while Qualcomm and MediaTek suffered significant declines.

The Exynos 2600 played an important role in Samsung’s improved chipset performance. The company used its latest flagship processor in the base Galaxy S26 models across selected markets, reducing its reliance on Qualcomm for the series.

That decision appears to have had a measurable impact on Qualcomm. Its premium-tier shipments declined as Samsung shifted a portion of Galaxy S26 production toward the Exynos 2600. Samsung benefited from the additional internal chipset volume.

Pay attention: the Exynos gains were not limited to the flagship segment. Samsung’s mid-range Exynos portfolio also contributed, with the Exynos 1680 powering the Galaxy A57 and Exynos 1480 appearing in the Galaxy A37.

Qualcomm and MediaTek were particularly affected, with both recording shipment declines of more than 30% in Q2. Non-premium devices faced the biggest pressure as manufacturers adjusted product plans to contain rising component costs.

Global smartphone SoC shipments fell 15% year over year in the first half, with soaring memory prices and cautious inventory management weighing heavily on manufacturers.

Counterpoint says memory prices jumped sharply enough that memory costs surpassed SoC costs across smartphone segments. Samsung reclaimed the global smartphone leadership position in Q2, reaching a 24% shipment share.