Galaxy S27 Ultra Exynos vs Snapdragon: An Epic Choice Indian Buyers Won’t Get to Make

A new report has stirred up the Galaxy S27 Ultra story — and it matters for Indian buyers more than most. PhoneArena reported on October 26, 2026 that Samsung’s in-house Exynos 2700 chip beat Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 Pro in the company’s own tests, citing South Korean outlet EBN Korea. The reported Geekbench 6.5 multi-core scores were about 13,000 points for Exynos against roughly 11,000 for Snapdragon, around 18% higher, with a similar ~15% lead in Geekbench 7.0. PhoneArena itself notes there is no concrete proof for these figures yet — but if they hold, the Exynos chip would be the faster silicon for the Galaxy S27 Ultra.

Here is the twist for India. Wider reporting from Android Authority and SamMobile points in a different direction: the Galaxy S27 Ultra is expected to stay on Snapdragon worldwide, including India, while the Galaxy S27, S27+ and the new S27 Pro get the Exynos 2700 in India, South Korea, Europe and most other markets. The United States (and Canada and Mexico, per SamMobile) would get Snapdragon versions of those models instead. In other words, the PhoneArena test result is exciting, but the current consensus is that Indian Ultra buyers will still get Snapdragon — and the final decision has not been locked, as one recent report notes.

What will India actually get from the Galaxy S27 Ultra?

If current reporting holds, the split looks like this. Galaxy S27 Ultra: Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 (likely in an overclocked “for Galaxy” form) in every market, including India. Galaxy S27, S27+ and S27 Pro: Exynos 2700 in India and most markets outside North America; Snapdragon in the US, Canada and Mexico. This continues the pattern from the S26 series, where the S26 and S26+ already run Exynos outside the US while the Ultra ships with Snapdragon worldwide. What is new is the Pro — a compact near-Ultra tier that does not exist in the S26 lineup — now also falling on the Exynos side in India.

Gizbot’s roundup also notes the Ultra is expected to stay on Snapdragon worldwide, including India. For the wider leak roundup, see our Galaxy S27 Ultra leaks post.

Why Samsung wants its own chip everywhere

The reason is part money, part strategy. Qualcomm’s latest flagship chip is rumoured to cost brands over $300 per unit, according to PhoneArena, which pushes flagship prices up. Using its own chip lets Samsung keep production costs in check and fill its foundry lines — reports say Samsung wants to expand Exynos across its lineup to support its 2nm production, with analyst estimates pointing to a possible ~50% Exynos share, up from an estimated ~25% with the Exynos 2600. Samsung’s chip divisions have faced losses, and more Exynos volume helps its foundry business.

Why Indian buyers are sceptical of Exynos

Exynos has a trust problem to overcome. For years, Samsung’s in-house chips were criticised for overheating, poor optimisation, shorter battery life and throttling under heavy use — a history PhoneArena itself recaps in its report. The Exynos 2600 nearly closed the performance gap, but it did not fully change perceptions.

The Exynos 2700 is reportedly built on Samsung Foundry’s second-generation 2nm process for the Galaxy S27 Ultra, with a 10-core CPU and 16-core Xclipse 970 GPU shown in a SemiAnalysis die shot, plus a new Side-by-Side layout for better thermals. All of that is reported, not confirmed — real-world sustained performance, heat in Indian summers and battery life will only be known once devices reach reviewers after the early-2027 launch.

What about the Galaxy S27 Ultra price?

Price is where this story hits Indian pockets directly. Samsung raised Galaxy S26 prices in India by up to 17% in September 2026, PTI reported, with the S26 Ultra 256GB moving from Rs. 1,39,999 at launch to Rs. 1,54,999, and the 1TB version to Rs. 2,14,999 — blamed on rising memory and component costs.

Against that background, the Galaxy S27 Ultra is expected to start around Rs. 1,50,000 to Rs. 1,70,000 in India, with one report pointing to roughly Rs. 1,59,999 for the 12GB/256GB variant, while global trackers warn of a $100 hike to $1,399. An in-house Exynos chip could help Samsung contain costs — but with memory prices still rising, Indian buyers should not count on a price cut. Our Galaxy S27 price leak post tracks the expected pricing in more detail.

Should you wait, or buy now?

The practical takeaway depends on which model you want. If you want Snapdragon silicon in India, current reporting says the Ultra is your safe bet — the S27, S27+ and Pro are expected to ship with Exynos here. If you are open to Exynos, the Pro could be the interesting one: near-Ultra positioning with the new chip, likely at a lower price than the Ultra.

Either way, wait for independent reviews after launch before deciding — in-house test scores are not the same as sustained performance in daily use. And if you need a flagship now, Samsung’s own refurbished S26 Ultra starts at Rs. 1,18,999 in India under its Certified Re-Newed programme, per SamMobile — a much cheaper way into the Ultra tier.

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