Samsung's Galaxy S26 series will deliver significantly improved on-device AI capabilities through a partnership with South Korean AI firm Nota AI. The collaboration focuses on optimizing AI models for Samsung's new Exynos 2600 chipset, which is expected to power the flagship phones launching in early 2026.
The Exynos 2600, announced earlier this month as the world's first 2nm smartphone chip, will feature Nota AI's Netspresso optimization platform. This technology reduces AI model sizes by up to 90% while maintaining accuracy, according to multiple sources. The compression enables larger generative AI models to run directly on devices without requiring internet connectivity.
Samsung's new chipset delivers a 113% AI performance improvement over the previous Exynos 2500. It combines this with a 10-core CPU and Xclipse 960 GPU for comprehensive processing power. The neural processing unit (NPU) enhancements specifically target on-device AI tasks that previously needed cloud connectivity.
The partnership builds on previous collaborations between Samsung and Nota AI, which worked together on Exynos 2500 and 2400 optimizations. Both companies are also developing the Exynos AI Studio toolchain to help app developers optimize their AI models for the platform. This toolchain approach extends the benefits beyond Samsung's own applications.
Regional availability remains uncertain, with reports suggesting the Exynos 2600 may only launch in Korea and possibly Europe. US models are expected to continue using Qualcomm Snapdragon chipsets. This regional strategy could create performance disparities, as Exynos 2600 users would access more advanced on-device AI features.
The on-device AI improvements address privacy and latency concerns inherent in cloud-based processing. Users could perform tasks like real-time translation, photo editing, and voice transcription without sending data to external servers. This represents a shift from marketing-focused AI features to practical, usable implementations.
Samsung's Galaxy S26 series is scheduled for launch in the first quarter of 2026, with reports suggesting an unveiling in February and availability in March 2026. The company will reportedly emphasize AI capabilities during the unveiling, potentially including upgrades to the Bixby voice assistant powered by Perplexity technology. The focus on AI comes amid reports of limited hardware improvements in the upcoming flagship lineup.
