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There have been rumours about the return of the Exynos 2600 chipset to Samsung’s flagship phones and the possibility of Samsung using the Exynos 2600 in its Galaxy S26 series next year.

Until now, they were all rumours without any official confirmation. But now, Samsung has hinted at something along the line in the Q3 2025 earnings release.

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Samsung confirms using the Exynos 2600 for the Galaxy S26 lineup

When talking about the performance of its semiconductor business during the third quarter of the year, Samsung states that it will strengthen the competitiveness of the Exynos process for key flagship models in 2026.

When it comes to Samsung flagship models, there are only the Galaxy S series and the foldables. With the Galaxy Z Flip 7 already using the Exynos chip after making the switch from Qualcomm’s Snapdragon, the company is definitely referring to the Galaxy S26 we’re expecting next year.

Rumours have it that the Galaxy S26 and Galaxy S26+ will only be powered by the Exynos 2600, with recent reports that the Galaxy S26 Ultra will also run on this chipset in most markets. There will also be Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 variant that may be exclusive to selected countries like the United States, Japan, and China.

One thing is clear, the Exynos chip will make a comeback in the Galaxy S26, as noted in Samsung’s report.

Author:Obiajulum Ndubuisi

Obiajulum is a tech enthusiast passionate about writing. When she isn’t writing about gadgets, she will probably be playing badminton, watching a movie, or surfing the internet.

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If you think your Samsung Galaxy phone is already smooth and powerful, just wait until you try out the new Media Player and Live Notification features in One UI 7 — and the even better updates coming with One UI 8. Samsung is stepping up its game, transforming your everyday media experience from ordinary to effortless. With the revamped Media Player and Live Notification setup, controlling your music, podcasts, and videos feels faster and more intuitive than ever. No more unlocking your phone or digging through apps — everything you need is right at your fingertips. It’s clear that Samsung’s Media Player and Live Notification upgrades aren’t just about looks; they’re about making your Galaxy experience feel smoother, smarter, and way more fun.

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  • What’s New with Samsung’s Media Player in One UI 7/8?
  • How to Use Media Player and Live Notifications Like a Pro
  • Bonus Tips
  • Why Tech Enthusiasts Are Buzzing About These Features
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What’s New with Samsung’s Media Player in One UI 7/8?

Gone is the old, boring media control popup. One UI 7 brought back the Media Player as a part of Live Notifications — meaning your playback controls show up live and handy right in the status bar and notification shade, and they even pop up on the lock screen as part of the sleek Now Bar.

The upcoming One UI 8.5 might take things further with fancy lock screen animations that spotlight your album art beautifully while you switch songs. Imagine your lock screen morphing like a mini music video every time you hit skip — it’s like having a concert in your pocket.

How to Use Media Player and Live Notifications Like a Pro

  1. Accessing Media Controls Instantly When playing music or videos, pull down your notification shade. The live media player widget will appear with album art, play/pause, skip, and volume controls. On the lock screen, these controls appear alongside the Now Bar’s pill-shaped interface, sleek and non-intrusive.
  2. Control Your Galaxy Buds Too With One UI 7, Samsung integrated Galaxy Buds controls right into the media player widget if you’re using Galaxy Buds 3 or newer. Tap the little Buds icon, and you get battery status, noise cancellation toggles, and volume controls — all without leaving your current app.
  3. Live Notification Enhancements One UI now shows dynamic, live notifications for your media, which means you can glance at what’s playing without opening the app. Plus, live notifications stay updated in real time, making it super easy to control playback on the fly.
  4. Customize Your Lock Screen Media Experience In One UI 8.5 and beyond, expect smoother album art transitions and possibly more media sources supported — so whether you’re jamming on Spotify, Pandora, or YouTube Music, your lock screen becomes a stylish music hub.
  5. Multi-Device Sync If you use Samsung DeX or connect your Galaxy device to smart TVs or speakers, media controls extend seamlessly to those devices, letting you swipe and control playback from your phone effortlessly.

Bonus Tips

  • Use Bixby routines or Galaxy AI to automatically launch your favorite playlist when you plug in your earbuds or enter a favorite location.
  • Hide excessive notifications while listening using Do Not Disturb and selective media notification settings.
  • Try Focus Mode combined with these media controls to create distraction-free listening or watching sessions.

Why Tech Enthusiasts Are Buzzing About These Features

Samsung’s updates to Media Player and Live Notification in One UI 7 and 8 go far beyond just a visual refresh — they redefine how you interact with your device. The new Media Player and Live Notification design puts everything you need right at your fingertips, making it easier and more enjoyable to control your music, videos, and connected devices. With smoother animations, smarter layouts, and tighter Galaxy Buds integration, the Media Player and Live Notification experience in 2025 is all about combining convenience, style, and a touch of futuristic flair.

Author:Ifeoluwa Adeleke