Samsung announces world's first 2nm chip for Galaxy S26
Samsung experienced a few bumpy years where regional variants of its Galaxy S flagships shipped with Exynos instead of Snapdragon processors, which tend to be more popular with consumers. The years 2023 and 2025 marked a departure from this convention: Both the Galaxy S23 and S25 (available here on Amazon) featured Qualcomm chips exclusively across all international models. However, 2026 may see a return to the Exynos/Snapdragon divide, though it remains unclear whether the newly unveiled Exynos 2600 will be offered outside Galaxy S26 units sold in South Korea.
For the first time, the Exynos variant may hold a distinct advantage over Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, manufactured by TSMC on a 3nm process. Thanks to its 2nm Gate-All-Around (GAA) process, Samsung’s upcoming SoC promises a 39% performance uplift and higher efficiency compared to the Exynos 2500. The new Heat Path Block (HPB) helps prevent heat buildup by sitting directly on the Exynos 2600, functioning much like a heat sink.
Deca-core SoC based on ARM Lumex
Samsung’s Exynos 2600 features ten cores built on the new ARM Lumex architecture, also used in the Dimensity 9500. By contrast, the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 packs eight Oryon cores. Comprising one C1 Ultra Prime core running at 3.8 GHz, three C1 Pro cores operating at 3.25 GHz, and six C1 Pro cores clocked at a lower 2.75 GHz, these ten cores are paired with a Samsung Xclipse 960 GPU and a 32K MAC NPU, which promises a 113% improvement in generative AI performance compared to its predecessor.
Superior photos and AVP codec
Samsung also showcased a new AI-based Visual Perception System (VPS) in the integrated image signal processor (ISP). This VPS can recognise scenarios such as a subject blinking during a selfie. Another notable addition is a noise-reduction system designed to enhance low-light camera performance. Even with all these upgrades, the new ISP consumes 50% less power than its predecessor in the Exynos 2500. With AVP codec support, Samsung aims to establish an alternative to Apple’s ProRes for professional video recording. The Exynos 2600 also supports cameras with resolutions of up to 320 MP.
Mobile gaming
Samsung stressed that mobile gamers will finally be satisfied with an Exynos chip. The Xclipse 960 GPU reportedly delivers twice the computing power of its predecessor, along with a 50% boost in ray tracing performance. Another new feature is Exynos Neural Super Sampling (ENSS), a technology that introduces AI-based upscaling and frame generation.
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