Samsung could make a major change to its next flagship smartphone, with reports suggesting the Galaxy S27 Ultra may switch from Qualcomm’s Snapdragon processor to Samsung’s own Exynos 2700 chip.

It follows claims that the next-generation Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6 has encountered overheating and performance problems during internal testing. However, Qualcomm has disputed those reports and described them as inaccurate.

While the Galaxy S27 Ultra is expected to arrive in early 2027, Samsung has yet to confirm which processor will power the device.

Overheating Claims

According to new reports, Samsung’s internal testing reportedly found that the Snapdragon processor exceeded temperature limits during sustained, demanding workloads, causing its performance to drop.

Known as thermal throttling, this happens when a processor reduces its operating speed to control heat. 

The report said Samsung had asked Qualcomm to address the alleged problems before it finalises the new phone’s hardware specifications.

Qualcomm, however, has pushed back against the claims. It states the recent reports about thermal issues are inaccurate. The company also said it continues to work closely with smartphone manufacturers to deliver premium experiences.

The two companies are yet to publicly confirm any change to the Galaxy S27 Ultra’s processor.

Could Exynos 2700 Be An Alternative? 

If Samsung decides against using Qualcomm’s chip, its own could provide an alternative.

Samsung’s own Exynos 2700 processor is reportedly being developed using Samsung’s second-generation 2-nanometre manufacturing process, SF2P, with improvements being made in performance and power efficiency.

Samsung has also been working to improve thermal management in its Exynos processors as they have previously attracted criticism over heat generation and performance consistency.

Samsung has relied on Qualcomm processors across its Galaxy S Ultra models since the Galaxy S23 Ultra launched in 2023.

The switch could also benefit the company financially, reducing the need for external chip suppliers and increasing the demand for its own technology.

However, Samsung would also need to ensure the Exynos 2700 can deliver competitive performance, battery efficiency and reliable operation under demanding conditions.

For now the reported processor switch is speculation rather than a confirmed change.