[News] Samsung Reportedly Set to Start Exynos 2600 Mass Production by September’s End

According to South Korean outlet FnNews, sources say Samsung has completed development of its next-generation smartphone application processor (AP), the Exynos 2600, with mass production expected to begin by the end of September. The report highlights that Samsung is showing strong confidence in the chip, emphasizing its notable performance gains over the Exynos 2500 — indicating it is likely to power the Galaxy S26 series, slated for release early next year.

Exynos 2600: GAA Process, Thermal Design, and Benchmark Gains

As the report points out, the Exynos 2600 will be Samsung’s first chip built on its 2nm gate-all-around (GAA) process, and its performance validation results are expected to be a key factor shaping the global foundry competition going forward. Meanwhile, the report adds that beyond GAA, the Exynos 2600 will incorporate a new heat management solution, the Heat Path Block (HPB), which is drawing attention for enhancing stability.

Confidence is reinforced by recent performance benchmarks. The report notes that Geekbench results for a processor believed to be the Exynos 2600 reached 3,309 points in single-core and 11,256 points in multi-core tests. The results place it nearly on par with Qualcomm’s upcoming Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 2 (3,393 single-core; 11,515 multi-core), also expected to power next year’s Galaxy S26 series.

In addition, according to Beta News, the Exynos 2600 is expected to be among the first chips to adopt ARM’s new Lumex platform. The report highlights that Lumex delivers over five times the AI performance of its predecessor, the Cortex-X925 core, while tripling the power efficiency of on-chip AI acceleration.

Business Boost for Samsung from Potential Exynos 2600 Adoption in Galaxy S26

FnNews points out that if the Exynos 2600 is confirmed for the S26 series, it could benefit Samsung’s System LSI, Foundry, and Mobile eXperience (MX) divisions. In the first half of this year, MX division spending on mobile APs rose 29% to 7.7899 trillion won from 6.0275 trillion won last year, much of it tied to Qualcomm sourcing. Expanding the use of in-house Exynos chips would help MX reduce costs, while System LSI would regain competitiveness by once again supplying processors to flagship smartphones, the report notes.

For Samsung Foundry, stable supply of the Exynos 2600 could help rebuild trust and attract new clients. The report adds that Samsung has already demonstrated its strength by securing major deals, including Tesla’s next-generation AI chips and Apple’s image sensors.

Read more

• [News] Samsung Reportedly Plans Exynos 2600 in Galaxy S26 Models, Reducing Qualcomm Reliance
• [News] Samsung’s 2nm Exynos 2600 Reportedly Enters Prototype Mass Production, Targets 50% Yield

(Photo credit: Samsung)