Samsung may replace Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite with its own Exynos 2700 in the Galaxy S27 Ultra after tests reportedly found heating and sustained-performance issues, though neither company has confirmed the reports and the situation remains unfinalized.
Galaxy S27 Ultra: what the report says
A report says Samsung told Qualcomm about thermal and steady-performance problems with the Snapdragon 8 Elite in September and asked for a fix by mid-October. The chip reportedly lost speed during long, heavy use, and Qualcomm has not met Samsung’s targets as of the available reports. No temperature figures have been published; both companies are still testing and tuning the chip. These claims should be treated as a rumor until confirmed by either side.
Exynos 2700 could return to the Ultra
If Samsung switches, the S27 Ultra would use the Exynos 2700, marking the first Exynos in an Ultra model in five years. The Exynos 2700 is expected to use Samsung’s second-generation 2nm process, and earlier rumors said it performed well in some speed and efficiency tests.
What it means for Galaxy S27 Ultra buyers
Heat and sustained performance affect real-world use more than peak benchmark scores. A cooler chip can provide steadier gaming, longer continuous video recording and improved battery life. A hot chip will throttle to protect the device, which can lead to dropped frames and reduced performance during long sessions. In previous years Samsung has split chipsets by region, so a mixed lineup remains possible, though no report currently confirms regional distribution plans.
Other leaks about the S27 line
Leaked measurements have suggested much thinner screen borders and smaller camera bumps for the Ultra: an early tip put the border at 1.28mm and the camera bump at 4.69mm, while a later leak revised those figures to 1.21mm and 4.64mm. For comparison, the S26 Ultra has a 1.68mm border. Competing models have also claimed thinner frames. The same tipster says the S27 Pro and S27 Ultra will support UWB, while the standard S27 and S27 Plus will not; UWB assists with precise tracking, digital car keys and smart home controls.
Supply worries for foldables
A separate Korean report says Samsung is considering GlobalFoundries as a second supplier of OLED driver chips to diversify a supply chain that currently relies on fewer partners. Adding a second supplier would aim to reduce the risk of shortages that could affect production of the Galaxy Z Fold8.
Nothing here is final: Qualcomm remains a strong candidate for the Ultra, and Samsung has not announced which chip it will use. We will update this story if either company responds.
