Snapdragon-powered Galaxy S26 Ultra smashes Exynos-powered S26 in single-core performance

Samsung's Galaxy S26 series launch is just days away, and benchmark leaks have revealed a significant performance gap between the Snapdragon and Exynos variants. The Galaxy S26 Ultra, powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 "for Galaxy," demonstrates a commanding 16% lead in single-core performance over the Exynos 2600-equipped S26 and S26+ models.

The Performance Divide

The leaked Geekbench 6 results show the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy achieving a single-core score of 3,724, compared to the Exynos 2600's 3,197. This performance advantage stems from the Snapdragon's higher clock speeds – the Prime core cluster runs at 4.74GHz versus the Exynos 2600's 3.80GHz ARM C1-Ultra core.

However, the multi-core performance tells a different story. Despite the single-core gap, the multi-core scores are effectively identical, with the Exynos 2600 trailing by only 2% – well within the margin of error for benchmark testing. This parity is achieved through the Exynos 2600's deca-core CPU configuration (1+3+6), compared to the Snapdragon's octa-core setup (2+6).

Regional Variants Explained

Samsung's strategy for the S26 series marks a return to its pre-2023 approach, where the Ultra model receives the premium Snapdragon chipset globally, while the standard S26 and S26+ use Exynos in select regions. This differs from the S23 and S24 series, which featured Snapdragon chipsets worldwide.

What This Means for Users

For most users, the performance difference may be less significant than it appears. While the Snapdragon variant offers better single-core performance – beneficial for tasks like app launching and certain gaming scenarios – the multi-core parity suggests comparable performance in everyday multitasking and sustained workloads.

Looking Ahead

The Galaxy S26 series is set to launch on February 25, with the Ultra model likely commanding a premium price point that reflects its superior chipset. For consumers in regions receiving the Exynos variants, the performance trade-off appears minimal for typical usage patterns, though power users and gamers might prefer the Snapdragon option if available.

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Source: TechManiacs (in Greek)