Samsung Nears Completion of 2nm Exynos 2600 Chip for Galaxy S26

After a challenging 2024 marked by production setbacks and layoffs, Samsung is showing signs of recovery - and fast. According to a new report, the company is making strong progress on its next-generation Exynos 2600 processor, built on an advanced 2nm process node. This chip is expected to power the upcoming Galaxy S26 series, marking a major milestone for Samsung’s in-house silicon.

Following the stabilization of its 3nm process yields, Samsung Foundry quickly shifted focus to 2nm manufacturing. The report states that Samsung’s 2nm yield rate has already surpassed 40%, closing in on TSMC’s current 60% yield. This represents a significant leap in Samsung's semiconductor capabilities. The company reportedly plans to begin mass production of the Exynos 2600 as early as November 2025, giving it a realistic timeline to debut in the Galaxy S26 lineup next year.

The Exynos brand has long struggled with a reputation for underperformance, especially when compared to Qualcomm’s Snapdragon chips. For years, Samsung flagships in regions like the U.S. have shipped with Snapdragon processors, while other markets received Exynos-powered variants, often with noticeably lower efficiency or performance. The recent switch to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 ("Elite") for the Galaxy S25 series was a direct response to these challenges, largely driven by yield issues with Samsung’s own chips.

However, Samsung appears committed to changing this narrative. If the Exynos 2600 can match or exceed performance expectations, it could restore consumer confidence in the brand’s chips and reduce reliance on Qualcomm. Moreover, if Samsung delivers a 2nm chip ahead of Apple - whose iPhone 17 series is expected to stay on the 3nm process - it would mark a major win for the Korean tech giant in the semiconductor race.

While hardware improvements like a 2nm chip are promising, the real question is whether Samsung will deliver meaningful upgrades across the board for the Galaxy S26 - beyond incremental updates or AI-powered features. Still, with the Exynos 2600 on track, Samsung could be setting the stage for one of its most competitive flagship launches in years.