Samsung appears to be revisiting a previous strategy with its upcoming flip phone, the Galaxy Z Flip 7. A recent report from South Korea indicates that while the model in its home market will be equipped with Samsung’s own Exynos chip, the version destined for the U.S. will continue to utilize Qualcomm’s Snapdragon chip.
Specifically, the Galaxy Z Flip 7 is expected to feature the Snapdragon 8 Elite in North America, including the United States, while units sold in South Korea may be powered by the Exynos 2500. This development indicates Samsung’s intention to introduce Exynos chips to its foldable smartphones for the first time.
However, this dual-chip strategy will not extend to the Galaxy Z Fold 7, which is anticipated to ship globally with the Snapdragon 8 Elite, continuing the trend established by its predecessors, the Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Z Fold 6. Moreover, it seems that Samsung is set to maintain this Exynos and Snapdragon split in its upcoming Galaxy S26 series.
Reports suggest that the Galaxy S26 and S26 Plus models will feature the Exynos 2600 in Europe and other global markets, while Snapdragon chips will be reserved for North America, Korea, China, and Japan. As with the Fold 7, the Galaxy S26 Ultra will reportedly utilize a Snapdragon chipset worldwide.
Samsung is also expected to release two flip-style models this year: the flagship Galaxy Z Flip 7 and the more budget-friendly Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE. The standard model is rumored to employ the Exynos 2500 outside the U.S., while the FE variant may use the Exynos 2400 seen in the Galaxy S24 and S24 Plus.
For average users, this intricate chip strategy may not be significant, but historically, models powered by Snapdragon have been preferred by tech enthusiasts for their better efficiency and performance. However, Samsung’s advancements in its 3nm process and updated Exynos cores may aim to alter that perception with this new cycle.