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Galaxy S26 series, in-depth analysis of the actual performance of Exynos 2600 and Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5With the release of the Galaxy S26 series, significant attention is focused on the S26 Ultra featuring the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 and the S26+ with the Samsung Exynos 2600. This analysis meticulously examines the performance differences between these two processors in real-world usage, comparing their benchmarks, gaming performance, battery efficiency, and thermal management capabilities against their predecessors and the iPhone 17 Pro Max. Discover in detail how Samsung's tiering strategy will impact user experience.
1. 📱 Introducing Galaxy S26 Series Processors and Test Models
· The Galaxy S26 Ultra is equipped with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy, while the S26+ and standard models feature the Samsung Exynos 2600.
· Samsung has previously mixed Exynos and Snapdragon processors, but this time, the decision to include Snapdragon only in the Ultra model sparked controversy over 'tiering.'
· The Exynos 2600 uses 10 CPU cores (1 fast, 3 regular, 6 slow), while the Snapdragon uses 8 cores (2 Ace, 6 auxiliary).
· The S26 series features an external modem, not integrated into the processor, and a new manufacturing process has been applied.
· The test models included the Galaxy S25 Ultra, S26 Ultra, iPhone 17 Pro Max, Galaxy S25+, and S26+.
· Samsung has previously mixed Exynos and Snapdragon processors, but this time, the decision to include Snapdragon only in the Ultra model sparked controversy over 'tiering.'
· The Exynos 2600 uses 10 CPU cores (1 fast, 3 regular, 6 slow), while the Snapdragon uses 8 cores (2 Ace, 6 auxiliary).
· The S26 series features an external modem, not integrated into the processor, and a new manufacturing process has been applied.
· The test models included the Galaxy S25 Ultra, S26 Ultra, iPhone 17 Pro Max, Galaxy S25+, and S26+.
00:30 - 02:27
1. 📱 Introducing Galaxy S26 Series Processors and Test Models
· The Galaxy S26 Ultra is equipped with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy, while the S26+ and standard models feature the Samsung Exynos 2600.
· Samsung has previously mixed Exynos and Snapdragon processors, but this time, the decision to include Snapdragon only in the Ultra model sparked controversy over 'tiering.'
· The Exynos 2600 uses 10 CPU cores (1 fast, 3 regular, 6 slow), while the Snapdragon uses 8 cores (2 Ace, 6 auxiliary).
· The S26 series features an external modem, not integrated into the processor, and a new manufacturing process has been applied.
· The test models included the Galaxy S25 Ultra, S26 Ultra, iPhone 17 Pro Max, Galaxy S25+, and S26+.
· Samsung has previously mixed Exynos and Snapdragon processors, but this time, the decision to include Snapdragon only in the Ultra model sparked controversy over 'tiering.'
· The Exynos 2600 uses 10 CPU cores (1 fast, 3 regular, 6 slow), while the Snapdragon uses 8 cores (2 Ace, 6 auxiliary).
· The S26 series features an external modem, not integrated into the processor, and a new manufacturing process has been applied.
· The test models included the Galaxy S25 Ultra, S26 Ultra, iPhone 17 Pro Max, Galaxy S25+, and S26+.
02:38 - 08:03
2. 🚀 Galaxy S26 Ultra Performance Analysis (vs S25 Ultra & iPhone 17 Pro Max)
· All tests used the median value after 5 measurements and were set to QHD default.
Benchmark Results (S26 Ultra vs S25 Ultra vs iPhone 17 Pro Max)
· The S26 Ultra's Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 focused particularly on thermal management, achieving both performance improvement and stability. Significant effort went into internal cooling, including vapor chamber enhancements.
Gaming Performance (S26 Ultra vs S25 Ultra vs iPhone 17 Pro Max)
· The S26 Ultra's power efficiency has significantly improved, allowing it to perform more tasks with less power.
· During 120fps gaming, frame rate stability has greatly improved compared to its predecessor, and the internal temperature policy has also been aggressively changed to allow up to 44.8 degrees Celsius.
Battery and Charging (S26 Ultra vs S25 Ultra vs iPhone 17 Pro Max)
· The S26 Ultra supports 60W ultra-fast charging 3.0, but actual measurements with an official charger showed a maximum of 51W.
Thermal Management (S26 Ultra vs S25 Ultra)
· The S26 Ultra demonstrates thermal management capabilities almost on par with the iPhone 17 Pro Max, handling heat exceptionally well compared to other smartphones equipped with the same processor.
Benchmark Results (S26 Ultra vs S25 Ultra vs iPhone 17 Pro Max)
| Category | S26 Ultra (Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5) | S25 Ultra (Snapdragon 8 Gen 4) | iPhone 17 Pro Max |
|---|---|---|---|
| Geekbench 6 (Single-Core) | 3,741 points (19% ↑ vs. predecessor) 3% ↓ vs. iPhone | - | - |
| Geekbench 6 (Multi-Core) | 11,456 points (15% ↑ vs. predecessor) 16% ↑ vs. iPhone | - | - |
| Geekbench AI (Single-Precision/Half-Precision/Quantization) | 10~15% ↑ vs. predecessor | - | - |
| 3DMark (Highest Score) | 7,843 points (15% ↑ vs. predecessor) 32% ↑ vs. iPhone | - | - |
| 3DMark (Lowest Score) | 4,339 points (27% ↑ vs. predecessor) 13% ↑ vs. iPhone | - | - |
| 3DMark (Stability) | 55.3% (3.8%p ↑ vs. predecessor) 15%p ↓ vs. iPhone | - | - |
· The S26 Ultra's Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 focused particularly on thermal management, achieving both performance improvement and stability. Significant effort went into internal cooling, including vapor chamber enhancements.
Gaming Performance (S26 Ultra vs S25 Ultra vs iPhone 17 Pro Max)
| Game | Measurement Item | S26 Ultra | S25 Ultra | iPhone 17 Pro Max |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mabinogi Mobile (30 min) | Average FPS Lowest 5% FPS Average Power Consumption Instantaneous Peak Power | 58fps (similar to predecessor) 2.2fps ↑ vs. predecessor 4.54W (22% ↓ vs. predecessor) 10.47W (similar to predecessor) | - | Average FPS 1.1fps ↓ Lowest 5% lower on iPhone - - |
| Subnautica (60fps, 30 min) | Average FPS Lowest 5% FPS Average Power Consumption | Slightly ↓ vs. predecessor 0.8fps ↑ vs. predecessor 5.38W (9% ↓ vs. predecessor) | - | Galaxy performance is better |
| Subnautica (120fps, 30 min) | Average FPS Lowest 5% FPS Average Power Consumption Instantaneous Peak Power | 9fps ↑ vs. predecessor 8fps ↑ vs. predecessor 10.2% ↑ vs. predecessor 1.24W ↓ vs. predecessor | - | - |
· The S26 Ultra's power efficiency has significantly improved, allowing it to perform more tasks with less power.
· During 120fps gaming, frame rate stability has greatly improved compared to its predecessor, and the internal temperature policy has also been aggressively changed to allow up to 44.8 degrees Celsius.
Battery and Charging (S26 Ultra vs S25 Ultra vs iPhone 17 Pro Max)
| Test Item | S26 Ultra | S25 Ultra | iPhone 17 Pro Max |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4K 60fps Video Recording (Remaining after 1 hour) | 79% (similar to predecessor) | - | 78% (1% difference from S26 Ultra) |
| Mabinogi Mobile Play (Remaining after 1 hour) | 79% (9% ↑ vs. predecessor) | - | 78% (1% ↓ vs. S26 Ultra) |
| 4K Video Playback (Total Playback Time) | 1 hour 8 minutes 34 seconds ↑ vs. predecessor | - | 5 hours 30 minutes ↑ vs. S26 Ultra |
| Charging (Charge rate after 30 min) | 81% (8% ↑ vs. predecessor) | - | 24% ↓ vs. S26 Ultra |
| Charging (Full charge time) | Approximately 30 minutes faster than iPhone | - | - |
· The S26 Ultra supports 60W ultra-fast charging 3.0, but actual measurements with an official charger showed a maximum of 51W.
Thermal Management (S26 Ultra vs S25 Ultra)
| Test Item | S26 Ultra (Rear) | S26 Ultra (Front) | S25 Ultra (Rear) | S25 Ultra (Front) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3DMark | 0.1 degree difference from predecessor | 39 degrees (2.6 degrees ↓ vs. predecessor) | - | - |
| 4K 60fps Video Recording (1 hour) | 0.3 degrees ↑ vs. predecessor | 0.1 degrees ↓ vs. predecessor | - | - |
| Mabinogi Mobile Play (1 hour) | 39 degrees (5.6 degrees ↓ vs. predecessor) | 5.4 degrees ↓ vs. predecessor | - | - |
· The S26 Ultra demonstrates thermal management capabilities almost on par with the iPhone 17 Pro Max, handling heat exceptionally well compared to other smartphones equipped with the same processor.
08:07 - 12:31
3. ⚡ Galaxy S26 Plus Performance Analysis (Exynos 2600 vs Snapdragon 8 Gen 4)
· The S26+ is equipped with the Exynos 2600, and comparative tests were conducted against the predecessor S25+'s Snapdragon 8 Gen 4.
Benchmark Results (S26+ Exynos 2600 vs S25+ Snapdragon 8 Gen 4)
· The Exynos 2600 showed significant improvements in CPU multi-core and AI performance compared to the predecessor Snapdragon, and its GPU performance also held up better than expected.
· Compared to the S26 Ultra's new Qualcomm processor, the CPU single-core was 18% lower, multi-core was 5% lower, and GPU was 9% lower at peak and 8% lower at minimum.
Gaming Performance (S26+ Exynos 2600 vs S25+ Snapdragon 8 Gen 4)
· In Mabinogi Mobile, the Exynos tended to drop frames after the initial 10 minutes and showed high power consumption.
· In Subnautica, the Exynos actually showed better power efficiency than the predecessor Qualcomm, and even under ultra-high load at 120fps, it performed not significantly worse compared to the S26 Ultra.
· There may be optimization differences depending on the game or the influence of GOS.
Thermal Management (S26+ Exynos 2600 vs S25+ Snapdragon 8 Gen 4)
· Thermal management significantly improved during 4K video recording, but heat was higher than the predecessor during Mabinogi Mobile gameplay.
· Compared to the S26 Ultra, there was a difference of about 7 degrees on the rear and about 10 degrees on the front during gaming, indicating the Ultra is more advantageous for high-spec games.
Battery and Charging (S26+ Exynos 2600 vs S25+ Snapdragon 8 Gen 4)
· While the Exynos showed better power efficiency than the predecessor Qualcomm during 4K video recording, the 4K video discharge test yielded an unexpected result with significantly shorter playback time compared to the predecessor. This could potentially be due to issues with the test environment (proprietary streaming server).
Benchmark Results (S26+ Exynos 2600 vs S25+ Snapdragon 8 Gen 4)
| Category | S26+ (Exynos 2600) | S25+ (Snapdragon 8 Gen 4) |
|---|---|---|
| Geekbench 6 (Single-Core) | 3,166 points (0.6% ↑ vs. predecessor) | - |
| Geekbench 6 (Multi-Core) | 10,942 points (10% ↑ vs. predecessor) | - |
| Geekbench AI (Single-Precision) | 439% ↑ | - |
| Geekbench AI (Half-Precision) | 53% ↑ | - |
| Geekbench AI (Quantization) | 18% ↑ | - |
| 3DMark (Highest Score) | 6% ↑ vs. predecessor | - |
| 3DMark (Lowest Score) | 20% ↑ vs. predecessor | - |
| 3DMark (Stability) | 5.6%p ↑ vs. predecessor | - |
· The Exynos 2600 showed significant improvements in CPU multi-core and AI performance compared to the predecessor Snapdragon, and its GPU performance also held up better than expected.
· Compared to the S26 Ultra's new Qualcomm processor, the CPU single-core was 18% lower, multi-core was 5% lower, and GPU was 9% lower at peak and 8% lower at minimum.
Gaming Performance (S26+ Exynos 2600 vs S25+ Snapdragon 8 Gen 4)
| Game | Measurement Item | S26+ (Exynos 2600) | S25+ (Snapdragon 8 Gen 4) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mabinogi Mobile (30 min) | Average FPS Lowest 5% FPS Average Power Consumption Instantaneous Peak Power | 56.7fps (1.3fps ↓ vs. predecessor) Similar to predecessor 6.88W (15.6% ↑ vs. predecessor) 19.34W (somewhat high) | - |
| Subnautica (60fps, 30 min) | Average FPS Lowest 5% FPS Average Power Consumption Instantaneous Peak Power | Similar to predecessor 1.2fps ↑ vs. predecessor 5% ↓ vs. predecessor 1.57W ↓ vs. predecessor | - |
| - | |||
| Subnautica (120fps, 30 min) | Average FPS Lowest 5% FPS Average Power Consumption Instantaneous Peak Power | 4.5fps ↑ vs. predecessor 1.5fps ↑ vs. predecessor 2.7% ↑ vs. predecessor Around 20W | - |
· In Mabinogi Mobile, the Exynos tended to drop frames after the initial 10 minutes and showed high power consumption.
· In Subnautica, the Exynos actually showed better power efficiency than the predecessor Qualcomm, and even under ultra-high load at 120fps, it performed not significantly worse compared to the S26 Ultra.
· There may be optimization differences depending on the game or the influence of GOS.
Thermal Management (S26+ Exynos 2600 vs S25+ Snapdragon 8 Gen 4)
| Test Item | S26+ (Rear) | S26+ (Front) | S25+ (Rear) | S25+ (Front) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3DMark | 0.6 degrees ↓ vs. predecessor | 0.3 degrees ↑ vs. predecessor | - | - |
| 4K 60fps Video Recording (1 hour) | 4.3 degrees ↓ vs. predecessor | 4 degrees ↓ vs. predecessor | - | - |
| Mabinogi Mobile Play (1 hour) | 1.4 degrees ↑ vs. predecessor | 2.7 degrees ↑ vs. predecessor | - | - |
· Thermal management significantly improved during 4K video recording, but heat was higher than the predecessor during Mabinogi Mobile gameplay.
· Compared to the S26 Ultra, there was a difference of about 7 degrees on the rear and about 10 degrees on the front during gaming, indicating the Ultra is more advantageous for high-spec games.
Battery and Charging (S26+ Exynos 2600 vs S25+ Snapdragon 8 Gen 4)
| Test Item | S26+ (Exynos 2600) | S25+ (Snapdragon 8 Gen 4) |
|---|---|---|
| 4K 60fps Video Recording (Remaining after 1 hour) | 83% (5% ↑ vs. predecessor) | - |
| Mabinogi Mobile Play (Remaining after 1 hour) | 72% (4% ↓ vs. predecessor) | - |
| - | ||
| 4K Video Discharge Test (Total Playback Time) | 7 hours 23 minutes (5 hours 35 minutes ↓ vs. predecessor) | - |
| Charge Rate and Full Charge Time | Same as predecessor | - |
· While the Exynos showed better power efficiency than the predecessor Qualcomm during 4K video recording, the 4K video discharge test yielded an unexpected result with significantly shorter playback time compared to the predecessor. This could potentially be due to issues with the test environment (proprietary streaming server).
12:36 - 13:43
4. 💡 Final Conclusion and Buying Guide
· The Exynos 2600 showed performance levels similar to the predecessor Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 4, but it falls short of the new Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5.
· This is presumed to be due to the technological difference between TSMC foundry and Samsung, and the Exynos's tendency to draw more power for performance.
· Despite being a new smartphone for 2026, the Exynos model of the S26+ shows similar performance to its predecessor, which might be disappointing for some users.
· It's also regrettable that consumers in Korea pay the same price but experience a performance disadvantage, as some countries receive the standard model with Snapdragon.
· Nevertheless, Exynos continues to evolve, and for general use, camera, AI, and light gaming, the S26+'s Exynos 2600 performed sufficiently well.
· However, if you prioritize long-duration high-spec gaming, are sensitive to heat, or demand peak performance, choosing the Galaxy S26 Ultra would be more satisfying.
· This is presumed to be due to the technological difference between TSMC foundry and Samsung, and the Exynos's tendency to draw more power for performance.
· Despite being a new smartphone for 2026, the Exynos model of the S26+ shows similar performance to its predecessor, which might be disappointing for some users.
· It's also regrettable that consumers in Korea pay the same price but experience a performance disadvantage, as some countries receive the standard model with Snapdragon.
· Nevertheless, Exynos continues to evolve, and for general use, camera, AI, and light gaming, the S26+'s Exynos 2600 performed sufficiently well.
· However, if you prioritize long-duration high-spec gaming, are sensitive to heat, or demand peak performance, choosing the Galaxy S26 Ultra would be more satisfying.