Samsung May Switch to Exynos Over Reported Galaxy S27 Ultra Overheating

    Samsung’s Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6 processor reportedly developed a serious overheating problem during Galaxy S27 Ultra testing. When operating under a heavy load for an extended period, the chip exceeded its temperature limit and reduced its speed to protect itself. As a result, the Exynos 2700 has once again emerged as an alternative. Qualcomm, however, said that the report about the overheating problem was untrue.    Samsung and Qualcomm held discussions to resolve the problem by the middle of the month. According to the latest information, there is still no ready solution. If the processor operates with the required stability, Samsung will stick with Snapdragon in line with its previous plan. Otherwise, it may switch to the Exynos 2700 chip to avoid delaying the production schedule. Qualcomm emphasized that it continues to work with device manufacturers worldwide.    In internal performance tests, the Exynos 2700 outperformed its rival by approximately 10% in multicore Geekbench results. The processor is also claimed to generate less heat. The Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6 is already used in some Chinese smartphones. Those manufacturers use cooling systems with larger vapor chambers to dissipate heat, while Samsung typically uses a smaller system.    Qualcomm unveiled its new flagship chips in September. The Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6 is based on a 2 nm manufacturing process. The processor has 2 cores running at 5 GHz. According to the company, compared with the previous generation, the processor’s computing power has increased by 13%, while graphics performance has risen by 44%. AI processing has accelerated, and power consumption has also been improved. One model featuring this chip is the Motorola Signature 27, which is being developed for the US market.    Mass production of the Galaxy S27 series is scheduled to begin at the end of 2026. The devices are expected to go on sale in February or March 2027. Therefore, the processor choice must be finalized soon. It is not yet known whether the Galaxy S27 Ultra will be sold with the Exynos 2700 processor in all markets or whether the choice will vary by region.    If the processor choice varies by region, Samsung LSI could receive a large order and generate additional revenue. Samsung DX could also reduce spending on the more expensive Snapdragon chips. The last Ultra model with an Exynos processor was released in South Korea in 2021 and globally in 2022. In the US, the last model whose entire series used an Exynos processor was the Galaxy S6, released more than 10 years ago.