Samsung unveils Exynos 2600: world’s first 2nm chip to power Galaxy S26
By Cygnus | 19 Dec 2025
Samsung Electronics has officially launched the Exynos 2600, claiming a historic victory in the global semiconductor race by debuting the world’s first smartphone processor built on 2-nanometer (2nm) Gate-All-Around (GAA) technology.
The announcement positions Samsung Foundry ahead of rivals in the transition to the 2nm node, a critical leap that promises higher performance with lower power consumption. The flagship chipset is confirmed to power the upcoming Galaxy S26 and S26+ in select global markets, including Europe and India, starting early 2026.
Deca-core power
Breaking away from traditional octa-core designs, Samsung has adopted a sophisticated deca-core (10-core) architecture. Based on the latest Armv9.3 instruction set, the cluster features:
- 1 Prime Core (Arm C1-Ultra) clocked at 3.8GHz.
- 3 High-Performance Cores (C1-Pro) at 3.25GHz.
- 6 Efficiency-Tuned Cores (C1-Pro) at 2.75GHz.
Samsung claims this configuration delivers a 39% improvement in raw CPU performance over the previous Exynos 2500, specifically targeting the complex mathematical workloads required by advanced on-device AI.
Solving the heat problem
Addressing past criticisms regarding thermal throttling, Samsung introduced a novel packaging solution called Heat Path Block (HPB). By utilizing a High-k EMC (Epoxy Molding Compound) material and a copper heat spreader directly on the silicon die, the company has reduced thermal resistance by 16%, allowing the chip to run up to 30% cooler during intensive tasks.
AMD graphics and AI
The Exynos 2600 integrates the Xclipse 960 GPU, built on AMD’s RDNA 3 architecture. It introduces Exynos Neural Super Sampling (ENSS), an AI-driven upscaling feature that reportedly triples gaming frame rates while maintaining strict power budgets.
Additionally, the chipset’s upgraded Neural Processing Unit (NPU) boasts a 113% boost in generative AI performance. With a 32K MAC engine and support for ARM’s Scalable Matrix Extension 2 (SME 2), the chip enables real-time video translation and complex 8K image editing directly on the device.
Summary
Samsung has launched the Exynos 2600, the industry’s first 2nm GAA smartphone chipset. With a unique 10-core CPU, AMD RDNA 3 graphics, and a 113% jump in AI performance, the processor is designed to handle the heavy generative AI workloads of 2026. A first-of-its-kind “Heat Path Block” cooling system targets the thermal issues of previous generations as Samsung prepares to ship the chip in the Galaxy S26 series globally.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
Q1: What is special about “2nm”?
It refers to the ultra-fine process node. Smaller transistors allow for higher density and lower power leakage. Samsung is the first to achieve mass production for mobile at this scale.
Q2: Will this chip be in the US Galaxy S26?
No. Reports indicate the S26 Ultra will use Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 globally, while the S26/S26+ in the US will likely remain on Snapdragon.
Q3: What is the benefit of 10 cores?
By replacing “little” cores with six “efficiency-tuned middle” cores, Samsung provides more sustained multi-threaded power for background AI and 5G tasks.
Q4: What is HPB technology?
Heat Path Block is a packaging innovation that moves heat from the processor die to the phone’s cooling stack faster, reducing core temperatures by up to 30%.
Q5: How does the AI compare?
The NPU is over twice as fast at generative tasks compared to the Exynos 2500, enabling local execution of large language models (LLMs) for instant translation.