- Samsung’s 2nm Exynos 2600 chip is inching closer to mass production with a big boost in yield.
- The Galaxy S26 might feature Samsung’s homegrown Exynos 2600 chip instead of Snapdragon.
- Samsung could beat Apple to launch the first smartphone powered by a 2nm chip.
Samsung is ramping up efforts in next-generation chip development, and the spotlight is now firmly on the 2 nm Exynos 2600. After receiving mixed reviews over the years for its Exynos series, this new chip may represent Samsung’s boldest attempt yet to reclaim a leadership position in mobile processor performance.
A History of Struggles and a Fresh Start
If you’ve followed Exynos over the years, you know the journey has been anything but smooth. Samsung’s in-house chips often lagged behind Qualcomm’s Snapdragon counterparts, especially in key markets like the U.S., due to issues like thermal throttling, inconsistent battery performance, and lower efficiency.
The Galaxy S25, for instance, had to rely entirely on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (Elite Edition), thanks to performance limitations with Samsung’s 3 nm chips. That decision, while expected, solidified doubts about Samsung’s chip-making prowess. But things are changing.
Enter the 2 nm Era
According to recent reports from South Korea, Samsung Foundry has significantly ramped up production of the 2 nm Exynos 2600, achieving a yield rate of over 40%. That’s a major improvement from previous generations—and puts Samsung within striking distance of TSMC, whose yield at this node is reportedly around 60%.
For context, chip yield refers to the number of usable chips produced from a single silicon wafer. Higher yield means more efficiency, lower costs, and ultimately, better scalability for mass production.
Samsung is reportedly aiming to begin mass production by November. If that timeline holds, the Galaxy S26, expected in early 2026, could debut with the 2 nm Exynos 2600, potentially making it the world’s first smartphone to feature a 2 nm chip. That would even beat Apple, whose iPhone 17 series is still expected to use TSMC’s 3 nm process.
Why 2 nm Matters
The shift to 2 nm isn’t just about bragging rights. Smaller process nodes allow more transistors to be packed into a single chip, which translates to improved performance, lower power consumption, and less heat generation. That means faster phones, longer battery life, and more reliable performance across the board.
This kind of leap in efficiency could allow Samsung to deliver flagship-level performance that rivals, or even surpasses, Qualcomm’s top chips. It also brings Samsung closer to the kind of vertical integration that’s powered Apple’s dominance with its M-series chips.
What makes the Exynos 2600 different is that Samsung is betting on itself, handling both the chip design and the manufacturing through its own foundry. It’s a high-stakes play, but it could lead to tighter hardware-software integration and faster innovation cycles.
Depending on the region, Samsung may still offer both Snapdragon and Exynos variants of the Galaxy S26. But clearly, the company is placing its hopes on the Exynos 2600 to reestablish credibility and close the performance gap.
Can Samsung Stick the Landing?
At this point, the most important question is whether Samsung can hit its production targets—and deliver the performance that users expect. If it does, the perception of Exynos chips in Galaxy devices could shift dramatically.
The next few months will be key. If Samsung can pull this off, we might just witness one of the most significant turnarounds in recent mobile chip history.
