Say the word “Exynos” to most Android fans and watch the room go quiet. That chip has a reputation, and not a good one. But Samsung might be ready to try again, and this time it has the benchmark numbers to at least start the conversation.
According to Android Headlines, Samsung is preparing to bring its in-house Exynos silicon back to the Galaxy S27 Ultra, which would mark the first time an Ultra model has shipped with an Exynos chip since 2022. Supply chain sources from South Korean media say Samsung MX and System LSI are already coordinating motherboard production for an Exynos-powered version of the phone. That’s not a rumor floating around social media. That’s production planning.
The chip in question is the Exynos 2700, built on Samsung Foundry’s second-generation 2nm-class process. Internal Geekbench results reportedly show a 19% CPU performance bump over the standard Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6, and around 10% more output than the Pro version. Under the hood, you’re looking at a 10-core CPU, an Xclipse 970 GPU, LPDDR6 memory support, and UFS 5.0 storage. Samsung also engineered a new side-by-side packaging to help with heat dissipation and energy efficiency. On paper, it’s genuinely impressive.
But here’s the thing. Exynos chips have looked promising on paper before. The real test has always been sustained performance, specifically how the chip holds up during long gaming sessions or heavy camera processing. Earlier Exynos generations throttled badly under load, and that left a lasting impression on users. Synthetic scores are one thing. Staying cool and consistent over 30 minutes of a demanding game is another. That’s the question Samsung still needs to answer publicly.
Samsung isn’t ditching Qualcomm entirely, which is a smart move. The plan is a regional split: US models keep Snapdragon, while South Korea, Europe, and select international markets get the Exynos 2700. That kind of dual-sourcing strategy gives Samsung flexibility and also limits the fallout if the Exynos version underperforms. It’s cautious. Arguably too cautious to call this a full comeback, but it’s a real step.
The Galaxy S27 series is shaping up to be a busy launch on other fronts too. Regulatory filings and CAD renders point to four models this time around: the base Galaxy S27, Galaxy S27+, a new compact Galaxy S27 Pro, and the Galaxy S27 Ultra. The Pro and Ultra are getting a visual refresh with a wider, horizontal camera island across the upper rear panel, while the standard models stick with a vertical layout. The older 10MP 3x telephoto is reportedly gone on the Ultra, replaced by an upgraded 50MP 5x sensor.
Charging speeds, though, are staying right where they’ve been. The standard S27 is confirmed at 25W wired charging, and the S27+, Pro, and Ultra all sit at 45W. And yes, no charger in the box again. At this point that’s just expected, but it’s still worth saying out loud.
What makes all of this matter beyond one phone launch is the bigger picture. If the Exynos 2700 actually delivers in the real world, it puts Samsung in a stronger position against Qualcomm when it comes to pricing and supply chain control. And real competition at the chip level is good for consumers. It could also signal that Samsung’s semiconductor division is finally back on track after years of playing catch-up. That’s worth watching closely, even if the final verdict won’t come until someone puts the phone through its paces properly.
Nothing is confirmed yet. But if Samsung’s own engineers are confident enough to push this chip into the Ultra lineup, that alone says something.