The recent uncertainty regarding Samsung's Exynos 2600 chipset has been alleviated by a new report indicating that the tech giant has achieved remarkable results with its 2nm GAA technology. With this advancement, Samsung is reportedly ready to move into the mass production phase, with the first silicon chips expected to be produced using this cutting-edge lithography process. This progress signals a potential shift in the market, suggesting that the upcoming Galaxy S26 may not be limited to a Snapdragon-exclusive configuration, thus challenging Qualcomm's long-standing dominance in the smartphone chipset arena.
In a recent internal meeting, Samsung executives expressed their satisfaction with the performance of the Exynos 2600, highlighting significant improvements over its predecessor, the Exynos 2500. Although the latest update from Fnnews did not specify the current yield percentages for the 2nm GAA process, it was previously reported back in February that yields stood at 30 percent. Since then, Samsung has had ample time to enhance this figure, and insights from tipster @Jukanlosreve suggest that the company is optimistic about the Exynos 2600's readiness for commercial production.
During the internal discussions, Samsung officials also underscored the anticipated performance leap of the first 2nm GAA chipset compared to the Exynos 2500. Back in July, Yong-In Park, head of Samsung's LSI business, confidently stated that the company was "steadily preparing the Exynos 2600" and expected "good results." His predictions have proven accurate, as the chipset has demonstrated exceptional single-core and multi-core performance, competing effectively against a downclocked Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 and outperforming Apple’s flagship A19 Pro in Geekbench 6’s multi-threaded benchmarks.
With the Exynos 2600 poised to power the Galaxy S26 and Galaxy S26 Edge, customers eagerly upgrading to these flagship devices can rest assured that they will not be receiving a subpar experience. The impressive performance metrics of the Exynos 2600 are expected to bolster consumer confidence in Samsung's chip technology. The success of this chipset is crucial for the company, as it would validate the effectiveness of their 2nm GAA process and help restore trust in their products.
However, industry insiders caution that Samsung’s success in the advanced lithography domain will ultimately depend on the performance of its second-generation 2nm GAA process, known as SF2P. Fortunately, reports indicate that Samsung is ahead of schedule in the development of this new process. The company has reportedly completed the basic design for the manufacturing process, suggesting that mass production could commence by the end of 2026, provided everything proceeds as planned.
In conclusion, the Exynos 2600 represents a significant step forward for Samsung, and as the company prepares for mass production, the tech community watches closely. With the potential to disrupt Qualcomm's monopoly and deliver high-performance chipsets for flagship devices, Samsung is setting the stage for a remarkable transformation in the smartphone landscape.
