Samsung is reportedly preparing to use its own Exynos 2600 processor in some versions of the upcoming Galaxy Z Flip8, according to a report from Korean outlet The Bell. The move would apply to the small foldable phone expected to launch in August.
Industry sources cited in the report say Samsung’s MX division plans to put Exynos chips into the next Galaxy Z Flip model. The Galaxy Z Flip8 has already entered an early stage of mass production, with the official launch currently planned for August.
The shift is notable because Samsung relied on Qualcomm processors for the Galaxy Z Flip line through the Galaxy Z Flip6. The company first moved its clamshell foldable series to Exynos with last year’s Galaxy Z Flip7, and the new report suggests Samsung is now ready to continue that strategy with the Flip8.
The Exynos 2600 is Samsung’s mobile SoC built on a 2nm manufacturing process. It has already been used in the Galaxy S26 series of slab-style phones, where it has gone through broader market validation. Some users have described the chip as a clear performance step up from the previous generation.
Current rumors point to Samsung using the Exynos 2600 in Galaxy Z Flip8 models sold in South Korea and Europe. Other regions may use a different processor plan. That would be a change from the Galaxy Z Flip7, which reportedly used the Exynos 2500 across global models.
The decision also reflects the cost pressure facing Samsung’s phone business. Prices for DRAM and NAND memory and storage chips have continued rising this year, pushing up the overall cost of making smartphones. The report notes that there has even been industry discussion about the Samsung MX division facing possible losses under these conditions.
Using an in-house processor can help Samsung reduce the cost compared with buying external chipsets. For a company shipping large volumes of phones, even a modest reduction in component cost can matter, especially in a product category where margins are already under pressure.
One person familiar with Samsung’s MX division told The Bell that buyers of the Galaxy Z Flip series tend to care more about design and portability than peak performance. In that view, these users may be less sensitive to processor differences, which could make the introduction of Samsung’s own processor a lower-risk move than it would be in a performance-focused flagship.
For U.S. readers, the bigger takeaway is that Samsung may be segmenting its foldable strategy more carefully by market. If the report is accurate, the Galaxy Z Flip8 will not necessarily have the same chipset everywhere, and regional performance, battery life, and thermal behavior could become points to watch once reviews arrive.
Samsung has not officially confirmed the final chipset split, pricing, or full hardware configuration for the Galaxy Z Flip8. Those details should become clearer closer to the expected August launch.
