Samsung is trying its best to push the boundaries of chip technology with its Exynos 2600, now in mass production. Expected to power the Galaxy S26 series in 2026, this chip could mark a historic milestone as the first 2nm smartphone SoC.
The South Korean giant has kicked off prototype mass production of the Exynos 2600, built on its “cutting-edge” SF2 2nm process, aiming to make it the world’s first 2nm smartphone chip. According to a report out of South Korea, the chip is set to drive the Galaxy S26 and S26+, expected to launch around February 2026, while the Galaxy S26 Ultra will likely stick with a standard Snapdragon 8 Elite 2, not the custom “For Galaxy” variant used in past flagships. This follows Samsung’s pattern, as seen with the Galaxy S24 series, where the Ultra model relied on a Snapdragon chipset.
The Exynos 2600’s journey isn’t without hurdles. Samsung is said to be targeting a 50% yield rate for its SF2 node, up from 40% reported earlier, but full-scale production requires yields above 60%—a goal not expected until late 2025. Last year’s Exynos 2500 faced similar yield issues on the SF3 node, delaying its debut to the Galaxy Z Flip 7 in mid-July, while the large-screen Galaxy Z Fold 7 is confirmed to use the Snapdragon 8 Elite. Speculations suggest the SF2 node is a rebadged version of SF3 (SF3P), raising concerns about potential delays if yields don’t improve.
How the Exynos 2600 stacks up against rivals like the Snapdragon 8 Elite 2 and MediaTek Dimensity 9500 remains unclear. The Exynos 2500 lagged in benchmarks, and Samsung’s System LSI and Foundry divisions are under pressure to ensure the 2600 delivers competitive performance and efficiency. Success could bolster Samsung’s foundry ambitions and reduce reliance on Qualcomm.
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