TL;DR
Samsung just dropped the Exynos 2600, the world’s first smartphone chip built on a 2nm process. After years of Exynos chips living in Snapdragon’s shadow, this feels like Samsung’s genuine attempt at redemption. The specs are impressive: 10-core CPU hitting 3.8GHz, an AMD RDNA-based GPU promising 50% better ray tracing, and a 113% boost in AI performance. But here’s the catch – Samsung’s using an external modem, which could hurt battery life. The chip debuts in the Galaxy S26 and S26+ in select regions, while the Ultra gets Snapdragon globally.
Why This Chip Matters
When Samsung officially announced the Exynos 2600 on December 19, 2025, they made history. This is genuinely the first smartphone processor manufactured on a 2nm Gate-All-Around (GAA) process. To put that in perspective, everyone else – Apple, Qualcomm, MediaTek – is still on 3nm.
When I first saw the “world’s first 2nm” claim, I was skeptical. Samsung has made bold Exynos claims before that didn’t translate to real-world wins. But digging into the technical details, this isn’t just a marketing number. The 2nm GAA process represents a fundamental shift in transistor architecture. GAA technology wraps the gate around the channel on all sides, giving Samsung much better control over electron flow. This should mean genuinely better efficiency, not just marginal gains.
The Great Shift: From FinFET to GAA
To understand why 2nm is such a big deal, you have to look at what preceded it. For the last decade, the industry has relied on FinFET (Fin Field-Effect Transistor) technology. Think of a FinFET as a 3D fin poking up from a silicon sea, with the gate wrapped around three sides of it.
But as transistors shrunk toward 3nm and below, FinFET began to hit a wall. When the gate only touches three sides, it loses its “grip” on the current. This leads to leakage – wasted power that turns into heat.
Enter GAA (Gate-All-Around). Samsung’s specific implementation, Multi-Bridge-Channel FET (MBCFET), takes that “fin” and turns it into a stack of horizontal “nanosheets.” The gate now wraps completely around the channel on all four sides.
| Feature | FinFET (Previous Gen) | GAA / MBCFET (2nm) |
|---|---|---|
| Gate Control | 3-sided | 4-sided (360-degree) |
| Current Control | Good | Superior / Precision |
| Leakage | Higher at small nodes | Minimal |
| Design Flexibility | Fixed fin width | Variable nanosheet width |
| Voltage (Vdd) | Stagnant | Can operate at lower voltage |
I’ve spent hours reading through IEEE papers on nanosheet transitions, and what stands out is the “width quantization” problem. With FinFET, you could only increase power by adding more fins—which takes up huge amounts of space. With GAA, Samsung can simply make the nanosheets wider or narrower. This flexibility is likely how they managed a 10-core “all big core” design without the chip melting through the floor. It’s not just a size shrink; it’s a re-engineering of how electricity moves.
Mass production reportedly began in September 2025, with the chip now ready for the Galaxy S26 launch in early 2026. The timing matters here – Samsung is no longer playing catch-up to the launch window.
Full Specifications Breakdown
Here’s everything we know about the Exynos 2600’s architecture:
CPU Architecture
| Component | Specification |
|---|---|
| Process Node | 2nm GAA (Samsung Foundry) |
| CPU Architecture | Arm v9.3 |
| Core Configuration | 10 cores (1+3+6) |
| Prime Core | 1x C1-Ultra @ 3.8-3.9GHz |
| High-Performance Cores | 3x C1-Pro @ 3.25GHz |
| Mid-Performance Cores | 6x C1-Pro @ 2.75GHz |
| Efficiency Cores | None |
The most interesting design choice here is the absence of traditional efficiency cores. Samsung has gone all-in on what they call an “all big core” design, similar to MediaTek’s approach with the Dimensity 9500. Every core is a performance core, just clocked differently.
After years of watching phones stutter when switching between efficiency and performance cores, I think this approach makes sense. The constant core migration in traditional setups causes micro-stutters that users feel but can’t quite explain. By eliminating the weakest cores entirely, Samsung is betting that their 2nm efficiency gains make up for the theoretical power advantage of tiny cores.
GPU: Xclipse 960 and the AMD Partnership
The Exynos 2600 continues Samsung’s high-stakes partnership with AMD, featuring the Xclipse 960 GPU based on the latest RDNA architecture. This isn’t just a minor iteration; it’s the fourth generation of what began with the S22 series.
| GPU Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Architecture | AMD RDNA 4 (Mobile Optimized) |
| Base Clock | 985MHz |
| Peak Clock | 1.1GHz |
| Ray Tracing | 50% improvement over previous gen |
| Compute Performance | 2x previous generation |
| VRAM Management | Unified Memory Architecture (UMA) |
| Feature Support | Hardware Ray Tracing, Variable Rate Shading (VRS) |
Internal Analysis: The Evolution of Xclipse
When Samsung first announced they were bringing AMD RDNA to mobile, the hype was astronomical. But the debut in the Exynos 2200 (Xclipse 920) was marred by thermal throttling. I’ve tracked every iteration since, and here’s why the Xclipse 960 on 2nm is different:
- Driver Maturity: For the first two years, the drivers were the bottleneck. Games didn’t know how to talk to a desktop-lite architecture. In 2026, the Vulkan and Ray Tracing ecosystem for Android is finally mature.
- Hardware Ray Tracing Hubs: The 960 features dedicated hardware hubs for ray-box and ray-triangle intersection testing. This offloads the heavy lifting from the main shader cores.
- ENSS (Exynos Neural Super Sampling): This is Samsung’s answer to NVIDIA DLSS. It uses the NPU to upscale lower-resolution frames in real-time.
I spent some time digging into developer forums, and the consensus is that Xclipse 960 is the first mobile GPU that can actually run a ray-traced game at 60fps consistently. On previous chips, ray tracing was a “screenshot feature”—you turned it on to see the reflections, then turned it off to actually play. With the combination of RDNA 4 and the 2nm efficiency, we’re finally seeing desktop-class lighting in the palm of our hands.
When I saw that the GPU clock was still sub-1GHz (985MHz), I was initially worried. Most mobile GPUs are pushing 1.2GHz or higher now. But then I realized: RDNA is a “wide and slow” architecture. It achieves performance through massive parallelization rather than raw clock speed. By keeping the clock lower but the architecture wider, Samsung avoids the “volcano effect” where the GPU gets so hot it has to shut down half its cores. It’s a smart play for sustained gaming.
NPU and AI Engine
| AI Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| NPU Configuration | 32K MAC NPU |
| Performance Boost | 113% over Exynos 2500 |
| Security | First NPU with built-in virtualization security |
| Encryption | Hardware-backed hybrid Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC) |
The 113% AI performance jump is significant. On-device AI is becoming increasingly important for features like real-time translation, image processing, and the Galaxy AI features Samsung has been pushing.
My analysis: When I looked at the 113% jump, I asked myself: why such a massive leap now? The answer lies in the complexity of 2026’s AI demands. We’re moving beyond simple text translation and into “multi-modal” on-device tasks. A 113% boost isn’t just about speed; it’s about the ability to run larger, more quantized models (like a miniaturized Gemini or Llama) entirely locally, without pinging a server. This is a privacy win as much as a performance one.
Real-World Impact on Galaxy AI 2026
How does this specification translate to your daily use? Based on Samsung’s developer documentation, the Exynos 2600 enables several “Pro-Tier” AI features that were previously cloud-dependent:
- Zero-Latency Generative Edit: Removing objects from photos or expanding backgrounds will now happen in under 2 seconds. On the S24, this often took 5-10 seconds of “processing” time.
- On-Device Video Translation: Translating a live video stream (like a YouTube video or a Zoom call) in real-time without needing a Wi-Fi connection.
- Semantic Search in Gallery: Instead of searching for “cat,” you can search for “my cat playing with a red ball in the garden during sunset,” and the NPU will parse the video frames locally to find the exact moment.
- AI Camera Processing: The NPU is now deeply integrated with the ISP (Image Signal Processor), allowing for “Nightography” video processing at 60fps instead of the usual 30fps.
Memory and Display Support
| Feature | Specification |
|---|---|
| RAM Support | LPDDR5X |
| Storage Support | UFS 4.1 |
| Display Output | 4K/WQUXGA @ 120Hz |
| Single Camera Sensor | Up to 320MP |
| Dual Camera Setup | 64MP + 32MP |
| Video Encoding | 8K @ 30fps |
| Video Decoding | 8K @ 60fps (AV1 support) |
Benchmark Performance
Let me be upfront: benchmark numbers for unreleased chips are always questionable. I’ve spent the last week digging through Geekbench’s public database and tipster feeds on X to find something concrete. Different sources show different results, and pre-release optimization can skew things significantly. That said, here’s what I’ve found:
Geekbench 6 Scores (Leaked)
| Configuration | Single-Core | Multi-Core | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engineering Sample 1 | 3,455 | 11,621 | Ice Universe |
| Engineering Sample 2 | 2,155 | 9,842 | Geekbench Database |
| Optimistic Leak | 4,217 | 13,482 | Weibo leak |
| Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 (Reference) | ~3,800 | ~12,500 | Qualcomm |
When I first saw the “Conservative” 3,455 score, I was disappointed. It seemed like Samsung was still trailing Qualcomm. But then I noticed something in the detailed logs: these tests were run on a device with limited background optimization. The single-core frequency wasn’t even hitting the promised 3.9GHz. If Samsung hits even the conservative estimates at launch frequencies, they’re competitive. If they hit the higher numbers found in later samples, this is a genuine upset.
Samsung claims a 39% CPU performance improvement over the Exynos 2500. Based on my tracking of historical Exynos launches, that number is likely measured under specific conditions that don’t reflect sustained real-world usage. I’ll be watching the 2026 launch closely to see if they can maintain these scores for more than five minutes.
The Heat Problem – Finally Solved?
This is where I get genuinely interested. Samsung has historically struggled with thermal management on Exynos chips. I personally tested the Exynos 2200 in the S22, and it was notorious for throttling after just 15 minutes of PUBG Mobile.
For the Exynos 2600, Samsung introduced something they call Heat Path Block (HPB) technology. I managed to find a technical diagram from a recent investor presentation, and here’s how it differs from traditional designs:
HPB Technology Explained
Traditional chip packaging puts DRAM memory directly on top of the processor die. This creates a “thermal sandwich” where the memory acts as a barrier between the chip’s hottest components and the heat dissipation path.
Samsung’s solution:
- Lateral DRAM Placement: Moving the DRAM to the side of the chip instead of stacking it.
- Direct Contact: Placing a copper-based Heat Path Block directly on the processor die.
- High-k EMC: Using an advanced epoxy molding compound with superior thermal properties.
The claimed results:
- 30% reduction in chip temperature compared to Exynos 2500
- 16% reduction in thermal resistance
I’ve been tracking Samsung’s thermal claims for years, and this is the first time I’ve seen them fundamentally change the packaging architecture rather than just optimizing software fan curves. If the repositioning of the DRAM works as described, it addresses the root cause of Exynos thermal issues. This isn’t a band-aid; it’s surgery. I’m cautiously optimistic that this might finally end the “Exynos pocket heater” era.
Samsung is apparently confident enough in this technology that they’re considering licensing it to other chip manufacturers, including Qualcomm and Apple.
Exynos 2600 vs Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5
Let’s put these chips head-to-head:
| Specification | Exynos 2600 | Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 | Apple A19 Pro | Dimensity 9500 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Process Node | 2nm (Samsung) | 3nm (TSMC) | 3nm (TSMC) | 3nm (TSMC) |
| Architecture | 10-core (GAA) | 8-core (FinFET) | 6-core (FinFET) | 8-core (FinFET) |
| Max Clock | 3.9GHz | 4.6GHz | 4.2GHz | 4.0GHz |
| GPU | Xclipse 960 | Adreno 840 | Apple GPU (8-core) | Immortalis-G925 |
| Modem | External | Integrated | Integrated | Integrated |
| AI Perf (TOPS) | 113% boost | +37% boost | +45% boost | +40% boost |
Key Observations
Where Exynos Leads:
- First to 2nm mass production: This is a symbolic and technical victory. While Apple and Qualcomm are waiting for TSMC’s 2nm (which isn’t expected until late 2026 for the iPhone 18), Samsung is shipping 2nm now.
- Ray Tracing Prowess: The RDNA-based GPU continues to punch above its weight in lighting calculations.
- On-Device AI Readiness: The 113% NPU jump is the largest in the industry this year.
Where the Competition Stabilizes:
- Apple A19 Pro: Still reigns supreme in single-core efficiency. Even on 3nm, Apple’s custom cores often outperform “all big core” designs in tasks like web browsing.
- Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5: The absolute king of clock speed. 4.6GHz on a phone is mind-blowing, though it raises massive concerns about battery life.
- Dimensity 9500: The dark horse. MediaTek’s “all big core” pioneer is now in its third generation, meaning their scheduler is much more mature than Samsung’s new design.
When I looked at this field, I realized we’re witnessing a “Marketing vs. Maturity” war. Samsung has the 2nm marketing win, but everyone else has the maturity of the TSMC 3nm process. TSMC’s N3E and N3P nodes are incredibly reliable. Samsung is essentially betting the house that their architectural leap to GAA can overcome the yield and stability advantages that Apple and Qualcomm enjoy at TSMC. It’s a high-stakes gamble: if GAA works perfectly, Samsung leapfrogs everyone. If it doesn’t, the Exynos version will once again be the “inferior” variant.
What the Community is Saying
After digging through Reddit discussions on r/samsung, r/Android, and r/GalaxyS26, here’s what I found:
The Skeptics: “Exynos Trauma” is Real
The dominant sentiment on r/Android and r/samsung remains one of guarded pessimism. There’s a genuine “Exynos trauma” among power users who have dealt with years of inefficient chips.
“I still remember the Exynos 990 in my S20. That phone was a pocket heater. I don’t care about 2nm or GAA until I see a battery test that doesn’t drop 10% in an hour of 5G usage.” – r/samsung user
The Optimists: Banking on the “AMD Factor”
However, some users are more forgiving, specifically those who use their phones for gaming and AI:
“The Xclipse 960 scores are starting to leak and they are genuinely impressive. If the Heat Path Block actually works, this could be the first Samsung chip that doesn’t throttle into oblivion during a Genshin session.” – Discord user in a mobile hardware server
“People are sleeping on the 2nm GAA advantage. TSMC is staying on FinFET/N3 for now because it’s safe. Samsung is taking the risk. If they nail it, the S26 will be the most efficient phone on the market by a mile.” – Hacker News discussion
After reading through 100+ comments across these communities, I’ve identified a pattern I call “Specification Fatigue.” Enthusiasts are tired of hearing about “theoretical gains” and “benchmark wins.” They want to know three things: Does it get hot? Does the battery last all day on 5G? and Is it as good as the Snapdragon version? The community’s skepticism isn’t rooted in hate; it’s rooted in a decade of being promised a parity that never quite arrived. Samsung doesn’t need to win with a spec sheet; they need to win with a thermal graph.
Which Galaxy S26 Gets Which Chip?
This is where things get complicated for international buyers. Historically, Samsung has split regions between Exynos and Snapdragon. For 2026, that split is dictated by a new factor: Yield Rates.
| Device | Exynos 2600 | Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Galaxy S26 | Europe (UK, Germany, France), Korea, India | USA, China, Canada, Latin America |
| Galaxy S26+ | Europe (UK, Germany, France), Korea, India | USA, China, Canada, Latin America |
| Galaxy S26 Ultra | Not available | Global (all regions) |
The “30% Availability” Rumor: Why You Might Get Lucky
There are persistent reports from the Korean supply chain (specifically The Elec and ETNews) that Samsung Foundry is struggling with 2nm yields. Currently, it’s rumored that only about 30% of the planned 2nm wafers are meeting the quality standards for a flagship chip.
When I saw the 30% yield figure, it explained everything. If Samsung can only produce 3 out of every 10 chips successfully, they can’t possibly power every S26 and S26+ globally. This is why the Ultra is 100% Snapdragon. Samsung is prioritizing their highest-margin phone with the most stable chip supply chain (TSMC-made Snapdragon). If you’re in a “swing region” like India or Southeast Asia, you might actually see more Snapdragon S26 units than usual simply because Samsung can’t make enough Exynos chips.
What this means for you: If you live in Europe or Korea and you’ve been hoping for a Snapdragon variant, 2026 is your best chance. Samsung may be forced to ship Snapdragon variants to typically Exynos regions just to meet demand if 2nm yields don’t improve by mid-2026.
I’ve noticed a pattern with Samsung: whenever they switch to a radically new architecture (like GAA), the first year is always a yield nightmare. We saw this with the 3nm transition too. By limiting Exynos 2600 to the base S26/S26+ in fewer regions, Samsung is essentially running a “live beta” of their 2nm process. They get the marketing “win” of being first to 2nm without risking a global supply chain collapse if the yields stay low.
The External Modem Problem
Here’s the elephant in the room that could undermine all of Exynos 2600’s gains: the external modem.
The Exynos 2600 uses the Exynos 5410 modem as an external component rather than integrating it into the SoC. This is a move I haven’t seen since the days of the Snapdragon 865 and the infamous Exynos 990.
Why Integrated Modems Are Better
- Shorter Data Paths: Lower latency between the radio and the CPU.
- Shared Power Rails: The modem and CPU can share efficient power delivery circuits.
- Thermal Efficiency: A single integrated die is easier to cool than two separate chips fighting for heat sink space.
- Footprint: Integrated modems leave more physical space for larger vapor chambers or bigger batteries.
Real-World Impact: The 5G Tax
Industry estimates suggest external modems consume 5-10% more power during connectivity-intensive tasks. In my own testing of older external-modem devices, this “5G Tax” was most noticeable in:
- High-definition video calls on cellular data.
- Using the phone as a mobile hotspot.
- Background sync in areas with weak signal.
When I saw that Samsung went with an external modem for their first 2nm chip, I was baffled. But digging into the die-size rumors, it makes sense: the 2nm GAA process is so complex and the yield is so low that integrating a massive 5G modem onto the main SoC might have made the chip physically too large to manufacture at scale. Samsung likely traded modem efficiency for a smaller, easier-to-yield CPU/GPU die. It’s a compromise that ensures the chip exists, but you—the user—might pay for it in battery life.
Historical Retrospective: The Long Road to 2nm
To appreciate the Exynos 2600, you have to look at the “Dark Ages” of Samsung silicon. I’ve been covering mobile chips since the S6 days, and the trajectory has been anything but linear.
The Rise and Fall of Mongoose
For years, Samsung tried to build their own custom CPU cores, codenamed “Mongoose.” The Exynos 8890 (Galaxy S7) was a high point, but by the time we reached the Exynos 990 (Galaxy S20), the custom cores were too big, too hot, and slower than ARM’s off-the-shelf designs.
Samsung eventually killed the Mongoose project and switched to standard ARM cores, but the “efficiency gap” with Snapdragon remained. Why? Because while the cores were the same, the Foundry was different. Qualcomm was using TSMC, and Samsung was using their own foundry.
The Fabrication Gap
The real story of Exynos isn’t about core counts or clock speeds. It’s about the physical manufacturing process.
- 5nm Era (Exynos 2100): Samsung’s 5nm process was criticized for higher power draw compared to TSMC’s 5nm.
- 4nm Era (Exynos 2200/2400): Samsung struggled with yields, leading to the S23 series going “Snapdragon Only” globally.
- 2nm Era (Exynos 2600): This is the first time in history that Samsung is using a radically different transistor architecture (GAA) before TSMC has even launched theirs.
When I look at this timeline, I see the Exynos 2600 as the “Hail Mary” pass. Samsung realized they couldn’t win by just following ARM’s roadmap or trying to match TSMC at their own game. They had to change the rules. By jumping to GAA at 2nm early, they are trying to reset the entire industry standard. If it works, “Exynos” becomes a badge of engineering courage. If it fails, it might be the last flagship Exynos we see for a long time.
Future Roadmap: What’s Next for Exynos 2700?
While we’re just getting our hands on the Exynos 2600, leaked internal slides suggest that Samsung is already designing the Exynos 2700 for the Galaxy S27.
What to Expect in 2027:
- 3rd Gen GAA (2nm+): An refined version of the current process node with even tighter control over nanosheet thickness.
- Integrated Modem (Finally): Rumors suggest Samsung is working on a high-yield integrated 5G/6G modem that will eliminate the “5G Tax” of the 2600.
- AMD RDNA 5: A move to the next generation of AMD’s graphics architecture, potentially bringing mobile-exclusive ray-tracing hardware.
- Triple-NPU Architecture: A dedicated NPU for security, one for imaging, and a massive “Elite” NPU for generalized generative AI.
I’ve noticed that Samsung’s best chips always come in the second generation of a new process. The 2600 is the “Pathfinder”—it’s proving the 2nm GAA concept. The 2700 will likely be the “Refiner,” where they fix the external modem issue and maximize the yields. If you’re a “every two years” upgrader, the S27 might actually be the sweet spot for the 2nm revolution.
Buying Guide: Should You Import a Snapdragon S26?
If you live in an Exynos region (like the UK or India), the question always arises: Is it worth importing the Snapdragon version from the US or China?
As someone who has imported dozens of phones for testing, here is my criteria for 2026:
Import a Snapdragon S26 IF:
- You are a competitive mobile gamer (Genshin Impact, Warzone Mobile).
- You live in an area with poor 5G signal (where the integrated modem wins).
- You plan to keep the phone for more than 4 years (Snapdragon typically has better community ROM support).
Stick with the Exynos 2600 IF:
- You primarily use your phone for AI productivity (Galaxy AI feels snappier on the 2600’s NPU).
- You want local warranty and repair support (critical for expensive flagships).
- You are an early adopter who wants to experience the first 2nm chip in the world.
In previous years, I almost always recommended importing the Snapdragon. But this year, I’m genuinely torn. The Exynos 2600’s NPU performance is so much higher that for a general user who loves AI features, the Exynos version might actually be the “better” phone for the first time in a decade.
Developer Corner: Virtualization and New APIs
If you’re a developer or a security enthusiast, the Exynos 2600 has a few “under the hood” features that didn’t make the marketing slides. I reached out to a few contacts in the Samsung Semiconductor Developer Portal to see what’s actually new for 2026.
Hardware-Based Virtualization Security
The Exynos 2600 is the first mobile chip with a dedicated hardware block for virtualization security. In layman’s terms, this allows the phone to run “micro-apps” in completely isolated environments.
- Corporate Work Profiles: Your work email and apps can run in a secure bubble that even a compromised Android OS can’t peek into.
- Biometric Isolation: Your face and fingerprint data are processed in a hardware-vouched virtual machine, making it virtually impossible for malware to steal your biometric keys.
New ML APIs for the 32K MAC NPU
Samsung is launching the Exynos AI Toolkit 4.0 alongside this chip. It provides low-level access to the 32K MAC NPU, allowing developers to:
- Direct INT8/FP16 Mapping: Bypassing the standard Android Neural Networks API (NNAPI) for 40% lower latency in vision tasks.
- Hybrid PQC (Post-Quantum Cryptography): Developers of banking and crypto apps can now use hardware-accelerated quantum-resistant encryption.
I’ve noticed that Google is pushing hard for more secure Android kernels, and Samsung is clearly providing the hardware foundation for that here. By baking virtualization security into the silicon, they are making the Galaxy S26 the most secure “work phone” on the market. It’s a technical flex that most users won’t see, but IT admins will love.
Sustainability: The ESG Impact of 2nm
We can’t talk about chips in 2026 without talking about the environment. Semiconductor manufacturing is notoriously resource-intensive, often requiring millions of gallons of ultrapure water and massive amounts of electricity.
Power Efficiency per Transistor
The move to 2nm GAA isn’t just about performance; it’s about transistor efficiency.
- 40% less energy is required to switch a GAA transistor compared to an equivalent FinFET transistor at 5nm.
- Lower TDP (Thermal Design Power): Because the chip generates less waste heat (thanks to HPB), the phone requires less aggressive battery charging cycles, which extends the overall lifespan of the battery.
Recycled Materials in Packaging
For the first time, Samsung is using recycled copper in the Heat Path Block and recycled gold in the wire bonding process. While this is a small percentage of the total material, it’s a step toward a circular semiconductor economy.
My analysis: When I looked at these sustainability claims, I was reminded of a quote from a recent climate summit: “The most sustainable device is the one you don’t have to replace.” If the 2nm GAA process genuinely extends battery life and reduces heat-related hardware failure, the Exynos 2600 might actually be a win for the environment by simply lasting longer than previous generations.
My Verdict
The Exynos 2600 represents Samsung’s most serious attempt at chip parity in years. The 2nm process is a genuine first, the thermal solution shows they’ve identified their core weakness, and the performance numbers – if they hold up – are competitive.
The Good:
- First 2nm smartphone chip is a meaningful achievement
- Innovative Heat Path Block technology addresses historical thermal issues
- 113% AI performance boost positions it well for Galaxy AI features
- All-big-core design should provide smoother sustained performance
The Concerning:
- External modem is a step backward in efficiency
- Limited to S26/S26+ in select regions
- 2nm yields may limit availability
- Reddit community remains skeptical based on past experience
Who Should Care:
- If you’re in a Snapdragon region: This is academic – you’re getting the 8 Elite Gen 5
- If you’re in an Exynos region buying S26/S26+: Watch for early reviews before purchasing
- If you’re buying S26 Ultra: You’re getting Snapdragon regardless of region
The Exynos 2600 might finally be the redemption arc Samsung fans have been waiting for. But redemption arcs need real-world validation, not just spec sheets.
FAQ
Q: Is the Exynos 2600 better than Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5? A: On paper, they’re competitive. The Exynos leads in AI performance and ray tracing; Snapdragon leads in peak clock speed and has an integrated modem. Real-world testing will determine the winner.
Q: Will all Galaxy S26 devices have Exynos 2600? A: No. The S26 and S26+ get Exynos in select regions (Europe, Asia, Korea), while the S26 Ultra gets Snapdragon globally.
Q: Does the 2nm process actually matter? A: Yes, smaller process nodes typically offer better performance and efficiency. Samsung claims 25-30% better power efficiency compared to 3nm.
Q: What about gaming performance? A: Samsung claims 2x compute performance and 50% better ray tracing. The new Heat Path Block should help with thermal throttling during extended gaming sessions.
Q: When does the Exynos 2600 launch? A: It debuts with the Galaxy S26 series in early 2026 (expected January/February).
Q: Will the Exynos 2600 be used in the Galaxy Tab S11? A: Likely yes. Samsung typically uses its flagship smartphone silicon for its high-end tablets. Given the 2nm efficiency, the Tab S11 could see massive battery life gains over the Snapdragon-powered S10.
Q: Does GAA technology make the chip more expensive? A: Yes. The 2nm GAA process is significantly more complex to manufacture than 3nm FinFET. This is one reason why analysts expect a price hike for the Galaxy S26 series in regions where the Exynos 2600 is used.
Q: Can I disable the external modem to save battery? A: Not entirely. While “Airplane Mode” shuts down the radio, the physical modem chip still exists on the motherboard. However, using Wi-Fi whenever possible will significantly reduce the power draw of the Exynos 5410 modem.
Q: Is the GPU good for video editing? A: Absolutely. The Xclipse 960 features an upgraded Multi-Format Codec (MFC) that supports hardware-accelerated 8K AV1 encoding and decoding, making it a powerhouse for mobile creators.
Q: How does the Exynos 2600 handle Ray Tracing in older games? A: If the game doesn’t support Ray Tracing APIs (like Vulkan RT), you won’t see the lighting improvements. However, the raw compute power of the RDNA 4 architecture will still provide higher frame rates and better stability in classic titles.
