Samsung Exynos 2600 debuts as the world’s first 2nm smartphone chipset

Samsung has officially unveiled the Exynos 2600, its next-generation flagship mobile processor. The new chipset is built on the industry’s first 2nm Gate-All-Around process, marking a major milestone for Samsung Foundry and mobile chip design as a whole. With this launch, Samsung is clearly shifting its focus toward on-device AI, sustained gaming performance, and long-term efficiency.

The Exynos 2600 is based on the latest Armv9.3 architecture and uses a new 10-core CPU layout. Samsung has moved away from the traditional big, middle, and little core design. Instead, it has removed the small efficiency cores and replaced them with middle cores. This approach is designed to deliver more consistent performance across workloads, especially for AI tasks and long gaming sessions where stability matters more than short bursts of speed.

It includes one Arm C1-Ultra core, which handles peak performance and system responsiveness. This is supported by nine middle cores, split between three high-performance cores for demanding tasks and six high-efficiency cores for background and system operations. Samsung claims this new structure delivers up to 39 percent higher CPU performance while also reducing response time for on-device AI features.

The upgraded NPU in Exynos 2600 delivers a reported 113 percent improvement in generative AI performance compared to the previous generation. This allows smartphones to run larger AI models locally, reducing reliance on cloud processing. Features like real-time photo editing, smarter voice assistants, and advanced camera effects are expected to benefit the most from this upgrade.

The Exynos 2600 is the first mobile processor to feature hardware-backed hybrid post-quantum cryptography. This is designed to protect user data from future quantum computing threats. Samsung has also strengthened hardware-level virtualization security to better isolate sensitive processes, which is becoming increasingly important as phones handle more personal and financial data.

The chip features the new Xclipse 960 GPU based on AMD’s RDNA 3 architecture. Samsung says the GPU delivers double the computing performance of the previous generation, along with a 50 percent improvement in ray tracing. To further enhance gaming, the Exynos 2600 introduces Exynos Neural Super Sampling. This AI-driven technology upscales resolution and generates frames efficiently, making games feel significantly smoother without a heavy power penalty.

The new image signal processor supports camera sensors up to 320 megapixels and includes a Visual Perception System that can recognize fine details in real time. This helps reduce power consumption during photography by up to 50 percent. Samsung has also added improved low-light video noise reduction and support for the APV codec to deliver better color accuracy and detail in professional-grade video recording.

Samsung has introduced a new Heat Path Block technology, which improves heat transfer inside the chip. Combined with High-k EMC materials, this reduces thermal resistance by 16 percent. In real-world use, this should help the Exynos 2600 maintain stable performance during heavy tasks like gaming and 8K video recording without excessive throttling.

The Exynos 2600 supports UFS 4.1 storage, LPDDR5X memory, Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6.0, and advanced 5G connectivity across both sub-6GHz and mmWave bands. It also supports high refresh rate displays up to QHD+ at 144Hz and advanced 8K video encoding and decoding.

Samsung says the Exynos 2600 is expected to power the Galaxy S26 series, which is likely to launch in early 2026. With its 2nm process, AI-first design, and focus on sustained performance, the Exynos 2600 appears to be Samsung’s strongest attempt yet to close the gap with rival flagship chipsets and reassert its position in the premium smartphone market.

Samsung Exynos 2600 Specs