DigiTimes转述Counterpoint预测：高端AP份额向联发科倾斜、三星2nm Exynos承压

As the global smartphone system-on-chip (SoC) market contracts, competition in the high-end application processor (AP) segment is intensifying. MediaTek is accelerating its push into the flagship market, putting greater pressure on Samsung Electronics, which is promoting 2-nanometer Exynos chips.

Money Today , citing data recently released by market research firm Counterpoint Technology Market Research, reported that global smartphone SoC shipments are expected to decline by double digits in 2026 from 2025. However, the share of high-end SoCs is projected to rise from 30% in 2024 to 40% in 2026.
The figures indicate that although overall shipments are falling, higher-value products continue to account for a growing share of the market, further increasing the importance of the high-end segment for AP suppliers.
According to Money Today , Samsung plans to equip flagship models such as the Galaxy S27 Ultra with 2-nanometer Exynos chips and is working to increase adoption of its in-house AP. Samsung's share of the global smartphone AP market rose from 6% in the second quarter of 2025 to 9% in the second quarter of 2026, a gain of 3 percentage points.
Despite Samsung's gradual recovery in Exynos market share, its competitive environment remains challenging. Qualcomm continues to hold a strong position in the high-end AP market, while MediaTek is rapidly expanding its footprint.
EBN Industry Economy , also citing Counterpoint Technology Market Research projections, reported that Qualcomm's share of the high-end Android AP market is expected to fall from 55% in 2024 to 50% in 2026. HiSilicon's share is projected to rise from 17% to 18%, while MediaTek's is expected to increase from 11% to 12%. Samsung is forecast to remain at 11%, falling behind MediaTek by 1 percentage point in market share.
Analysts said MediaTek's Dimensity 9600 Pro is expected to gain share in the high-end AP market partly because it is MediaTek's first smartphone chip to adopt the 2-nanometer process of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC). MediaTek's continued partnerships with major Chinese smartphone makers, including Vivo, Oppo, and Xiaomi, are also key to expanding its presence in the flagship AP market.
Industry observers said that as MediaTek continues to strengthen its position in the high-end market, both the competitiveness of Exynos and Samsung Foundry's 2-nanometer process, which produces Exynos chips, will become increasingly important for Samsung.
With MediaTek expanding in the high-end market on the basis of TSMC's advanced 2-nanometer process, Samsung's immediate priority is to stabilize the performance and yield of its 2-nanometer Exynos chips and increase their adoption across the Galaxy series. This would help establish a positive cycle spanning chip design and foundry manufacturing.
If Samsung succeeds in increasing Exynos adoption in flagship smartphones, it would help Samsung System LSI expand sales while also enabling Samsung Foundry to secure 2-nanometer mass-production orders.
Some analysts have therefore suggested that Samsung's ability to take control of the high-end AP market will be critical to determining whether its System LSI and foundry businesses can fully recover.