- Samsung Foundry is aiming to reach a rather unbelievable 70% yield for its 2nm Exynos 2600 SoC.
- This is despite the fact that it had only reached 30% during the beginning of this year making a 70% yield a much larger leap.
- Exynos 2600 AP SoC will power a host of Galaxy S26 series devices sharing the space with Snapdragon 8 Elite 2 AP based on regions and models.
Samsung aims to achieve a 70% yield rate on its upcoming 2nm Exynos 2600 SoC – a significant leap, considering that trials for Samsung Foundry’s 2nm node initially yielded around 30%, putting the chipmaking giant in the spotlight.
Samsung Foundry is Aiming Higher for 2nm Exynos 2600 SoC
Samsung’s chipmaking division, Samsung Foundry, is targeting an impressive 70% yield rate with its upcoming 2nm GAA process node. Mass production is expected to begin by the end of this year, just in time for the Exynos 2600 APs to debut with the Samsung Galaxy S26 Series in February 2026.
This development comes just a few months after trials for the 2nm GAA process revealed a modest 30% yield rate. For those unfamiliar, a 30% yield rate means that out of every 100 wafers (each containing hundreds of chips), only 30% emerged defect-free. By aiming for a 70% yield, Samsung is essentially planning to more than double its wafer success rate in under a year.
A lower yield rate typically results in higher production costs, as the price of defective chipsets must be offset. These increased costs are then passed on to smartphone manufacturers, and eventually to consumers, raising device prices. Samsung Foundry has been steadily improving its yield rate — from 30% at the beginning of this year to 50% in May — and now aims for 70% by year-end.
If successful, the 2nm Exynos 2600 SoC will be the first AP based on a 2nm node and will feature a Gate-All-Around (GAA) transistor architecture, designed to reduce current leakage and boost performance, making the chipsets more energy-efficient.
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For now, it appears mass production of the Exynos 2600 SoCs will commence soon (once output stabilizes), followed by risk production runs to further refine yield rates. Full-scale mass production is expected to begin in December or January, with the rollout scheduled for February alongside the Galaxy S26 series.
The chipsets will be available across Europe and select markets outside the US, China, and Canada, while other regions will receive the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 Elite AP made by TSMC on a 3nm node. Notably, the Galaxy S26 Ultra in all markets will exclusively feature the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 Elite AP.
