Samsung Galaxy S27 Ultra May Get Custom Snapdragon Chip, Exynos Split Strategy Leaked

Samsung hasn’t even launched the Galaxy S26 series yet, and the leaks have already jumped a full generation ahead. Welcome to modern tech journalism. According to the latest credible leaks, the Samsung Galaxy S27 Ultra could ship with a custom Snapdragon chipset, setting it apart from its own siblings and quietly confirming Samsung’s ongoing trust issues with Exynos at the very top end.

If this report holds true, Samsung’s flagship strategy for 2027 is already clear: Snapdragon for the Ultra, Exynos for everyone else. And honestly? That says a lot.

Samsung Galaxy S27 Ultra Snapdragon-only strategy 

The new information comes from well-known tipster Digital Chat Station, shared via Chinese social media and later picked up by GSMArena. The claim is straightforward: the Samsung Galaxy S27 Ultra will run on a custom Qualcomm chip, reportedly called the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 Pro.

This wouldn’t be a standard off-the-shelf processor. Instead, it’s expected to be a Samsung-tuned variant, much like the “for Galaxy” Snapdragon chips we’ve already seen in recent Ultra models. The key difference this time is manufacturing. The chip is said to be built on Samsung’s own 2nm process, not TSMC’s.

Meanwhile, the regular Galaxy S27 and Galaxy S27+ models are tipped to use Samsung’s upcoming 2nm Exynos 2600 SoC.

That split alone tells you where Samsung’s confidence really lies.

Samsung Galaxy S27 Ultra vs Exynos performance trust gap

Let’s not pretend this is surprising. Samsung has been here before.

Exynos chips have improved on paper, but real-world performance, thermal control, and sustained gaming results have often lagged behind Snapdragon-powered variants. Samsung knows this. Power users know this. And Samsung clearly doesn’t want to gamble with its most expensive flagship.

By reserving Snapdragon exclusively for the Samsung Galaxy S27 Ultra, Samsung is quietly admitting that Exynos still isn’t ready to carry the Ultra badge on its own.

Yes, Exynos 2600 is a big deal. It’s a 2nm chip unveiled globally in December 2025 and represents Samsung’s most advanced silicon effort yet. But if it were truly ready to compete head-on, the Ultra would be the perfect showcase. The fact that it isn’t tells its own story.

Samsung Galaxy S27 Ultra launch timeline 

Officially, Samsung hasn’t confirmed anything beyond the Galaxy S26 series. However, a leaked Galaxy Unpacked invite suggests that the Galaxy S26 lineup and Galaxy Buds 4 will launch globally, including India, on February 25.

That matters because it sets the annual cadence. If Samsung sticks to tradition, the Samsung Galaxy S27 Ultra should debut in early 2027.

Interestingly, earlier reports hinted that Samsung might bring Exynos back to the Ultra line with the S27 generation. This latest leak directly contradicts that idea. As always with early leaks, take it with a pinch of salt, but the source has a strong track record.

Samsung Galaxy S27 Ultra expected specs and hardware upgrades

While the processor is grabbing headlines, other leaks paint a familiar but refined picture of the Samsung Galaxy S27 Ultra.

Expected highlights include the following:

• A 6.8-inch LTPO AMOLED display with up to 144Hz refresh rate
• Quad rear camera setup with a 200MP primary sensor
• New ISOCELL HP6 camera sensor with improved imaging tech
• Upgraded ultrawide and front cameras
• Battery capacity reportedly reaching around 5,500mAh
• 45W wired and 15W wireless charging
• Up to 16GB RAM and 1TB storage
• Seven years of Android OS and security updates

Design changes are expected to be subtle rather than dramatic, which honestly feels fine. Samsung’s Ultra design has aged well.

While the internal specs tell one story, the external design speaks another, take a first look at the sleek, gold-standard future of the Ultra series in the concept render below.

Samsung Galaxy S27 Ultra pricing 

Leaks suggest the Samsung Galaxy S27 Ultra may start around ₹1,31,999 in India. That’s firmly luxury territory.

At that price, there’s zero room for performance compromises. And that’s exactly why Samsung sticking with Snapdragon makes sense. Buyers paying north of ₹1.3 lakh expect the best chip available, not a regional experiment.

Samsung Galaxy S27 Ultra reflects Samsung’s priorities

This leak is less about chips and more about trust.

Samsung wants Exynos to succeed, but it still doesn’t trust it enough to power the phone that defines its Android reputation. Until that changes, the Ultra will remain Snapdragon-only, no matter how advanced Exynos becomes on paper.

If you’re a power user, that’s good news. If you were hoping Samsung would finally unify its flagship lineup under one silicon vision, this leak is a reality check.

Either way, the Samsung Galaxy S27 Ultra is already shaping up to be a performance-first flagship, and that’s exactly what the Ultra name should stand for.

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