Samsung drops Exynos chips on budget A-series, shifts to MediaTek or Snapdragon for A18

Samsung is reportedly dropping Exynos for Snapdragon and MediaTek in its next budget phones.

Samsung Galaxy A-Series

No more Exynos chip on entry-level A-series

Samsung looks like it's making a real shift in how it builds its budget phones. According to South Korean outlet ZDNet Korea, the company plans to leave its own Exynos chipsets out of the upcoming Galaxy A18 altogether, turning instead to MediaTek and Qualcomm for processing power. The likely reason: rising costs for components across the industry.

The report points to two separate models. The standard 4G version will run on a MediaTek chip, while the 5G variant gets a Qualcomm Snapdragon processor, though which specific chip hasn't been confirmed yet. That's a notable change from last year's Galaxy A17 5G, which used Samsung's own 5nm Exynos 1330.

This kind of regional split isn't new for Samsung. The company has typically reserved Snapdragon chips for the US, China, and Japan, while sending Exynos versions everywhere else, a pattern that holds true even for its flagship S-series phones. 

What's different this time is that the budget A-series never had a Snapdragon option before. Given how Samsung usually handles things, it's a safe bet the US will end up with the Snapdragon-powered A18 5G.

That would likely be good news for anyone who's used the current A17 5G in the US, where the Exynos 1330 has gotten a reputation for struggling with anything demanding, whether that's a heavier app or a graphically intensive game.

It's also worth remembering just how much the A-series means to Samsung's bottom line. The Galaxy A17 was reportedly the best-selling Android phone in the world for several quarters last year, beating out not just other A-series phones but the flagship Galaxy S line too. It was still sitting at fifth place overall as of Q1 2026, right behind the even cheaper Galaxy A07 4G.

As for timing, mass production on the 4G model is expected to start in August, ramping up fast: around 100,000 units that month, then 2.4 million in September, and 2.5 million in October. The Snapdragon-equipped 5G version will probably come later, likely because Qualcomm runs on its own manufacturing timeline. Expect the 4G model to land first sometime in the second half of 2026, with the 5G version following a few weeks after.

The big unknown is pricing. Last year's Galaxy A17 5G launched at USD 199, and for that price, buyers got a 6.7-inch 90Hz AMOLED display, a 5,000 mAh battery, and a solid 50MP main camera. 

If Samsung can hold that line while switching to Snapdragon and MediaTek, and keep up the kind of production volume it's planning, the A18 could turn into another big win.

The change also raises the possibility that Samsung could eventually extend a similar strategy to its flagship Galaxy S series, which currently maintains the regional Exynos/Snapdragon split.

What do you guys think?

Sources: ZDNet Korea via: PhoneArena