[Edaily Reporter SOYEON KIM ] SamsungElectronics unveiled its next-generation foldable smartphones—the Galaxy Z Flip 8, Fold 8, and Z Fold 8 Ultra—at “Galaxy Unpacked 2026,” held in London, UK, on the 22nd (local time). In particular, with the Z Flip 8 equipped with SamsungElectronics’ latest mobile application processor (AP), the Exynos 2600, analysts suggest this launch will serve as a litmus test for the competitiveness of SamsungElectronics’ System LSI Business Division, which has been struggling.

SamsungElectronics has equipped the Galaxy Z Fold8 and Z Fold8 Ultra with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite 5th Gen, while adopting different APs for the Z Flip8 depending on the region. Models sold in certain markets—including South Korea, Europe, and South America—will feature the Exynos 2600, while those launched in North America, China, and Japan will be powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite 5th Gen. The company is continuing its strategy of using both Qualcomm and Samsung APs in the premium smartphone market.

The Exynos 2600 is a mobile AP designed by the System LSI Business Division of SamsungElectronics’ Device Solutions (DS) division and manufactured under contract by the Samsung Foundry Business Division using a Gate-All-Around (GAA)-based 2-nanometer (nm; 1 nm = 1 billionth of a meter) process. The Exynos 2600 serves as the “brain” of the smartphone, handling computational and artificial intelligence (AI) functions.

Following the adoption of the Exynos 2600 in the Galaxy S26 Standard and Plus models launched earlier this year, SamsungElectronics has also adopted its own AP for the Z Flip 8, its strategic smartphone for the second half of the year. The Exynos 2600 is regarded as offering improvements in AI computing performance, graphics processing capabilities, and power efficiency compared to its predecessor. SamsungElectronics has continued its strategy of expanding the use of its own APs in its flagship foldable lineup, having also equipped last year’s Galaxy Z Flip 7 with the Exynos 2500.

SamsungElectronics’ System LSI Business Division has long struggled with weakened competitiveness in mobile APs, which has been a “thorn in its side” for years. All eyes are on whether Exynos can regain its diminished presence with this launch. Since the Exynos 2600 is a chip developed entirely with Samsung’s own technology—from design to production—both the System LSI Business Division and the Foundry Business Division can expect improved performance as sales increase.

The performance of this product is also expected to influence the development of next-generation mobile APs. The System LSI Business Division is currently developing the Exynos 2700, its next-generation mobile AP, with the goal of equipping the Galaxy S27 series, which is expected to launch early next year. Park Yong-in, President of SamsungElectronics’ System LSI Business Division within the Device Solutions (DS) Division, stated at a business briefing last month, “Development of the Exynos 2700 is proceeding smoothly, with the goal of equipping flagship models.”