Samsung Galaxy S26 Korean Model Benchmarked with Exynos 2600 Chip
New benchmark data has surfaced for the upcoming Samsung Galaxy S26, specifically highlighting the model destined for the South Korean market. This variant appears to be powered by Samsung's next-generation Exynos 2600 processor, offering a glimpse into its performance capabilities ahead of any official launch.
Geekbench Performance Details
The device, identified by the model number SM-S942N, was tested using Geekbench 6.5.0. It reportedly features 12GB of RAM and runs on Android 16, likely paired with Samsung's One UI 8.5 software. The benchmark listing confirms the presence of the Exynos 2600 chipset, which Samsung has previously announced as the world's first mobile processor built on a 2nm manufacturing process.
In the single-core test, the Exynos 2600-powered Galaxy S26 scored 3,315 points. For multi-core performance, it achieved a score of 11,310. These figures can be compared to the scores of the US-bound Galaxy S26 model, which is expected to use Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset. That variant scored 3,378 in single-core and 11,097 in multi-core tests in earlier benchmarks. Both next-generation models show a clear performance uplift over last year's Galaxy S25, which scored 3,175 and 10,050 points, respectively.
The Exynos 2600 Specifications
The Exynos 2600 represents a significant step for Samsung's semiconductor division. The chipset utilizes Samsung's 2nm Gate-All-Around (GAA) transistor technology. It is said to house a 10-core CPU configuration based on ARM's latest C1-Ultra and C1-Pro core designs. Samsung has claimed the new CPU delivers a 39% performance improvement over the CPU in the preceding Exynos 2500.
While detailed GPU specifications were not part of the benchmark test, the listing references a Samsung Xclipse 960 GPU. Industry speculation suggests this GPU may be based on AMD's RDNA 4 architecture, marking an advancement from the RDNA 2 architecture used in previous Exynos chips. Samsung has promoted significant generational gains in graphics compute and ray tracing performance for this new GPU.
Regional Chipset Strategy
The appearance of this specific model number reinforces the long-standing pattern of Samsung using different chipsets for its flagship phones in different regions. While the US model (SM-S942U) was previously spotted with a Snapdragon chip, the South Korean model (SM-S942N) is confirmed here with the Exynos alternative. Market rumors have consistently suggested that European markets may also receive Exynos-based Galaxy S26 models, though no benchmark data for a European variant has been publicly documented at this time.
Conclusion
The Geekbench listing for the South Korean Galaxy S26 provides concrete, early performance data for Samsung's ambitious Exynos 2600 chipset. The scores indicate it will be highly competitive with Qualcomm's flagship offering, potentially closing the performance gap that has existed in some previous generations. This leak solidifies expectations of a dual-chipset strategy for the Galaxy S26 series, with the choice of processor continuing to be a key differentiator based on the buyer's region. As with all pre-release benchmarks, these figures should be considered preliminary, but they offer a promising outlook for Samsung's in-house silicon efforts.