TECH – Samsung has officially introduced its latest flagship mobile processor, the Exynos 2600, setting a milestone as the world’s first smartphone chip built on a 2 nanometre (2 nm) Gate-All-Around (GAA) process, a move that could reshape the future of mobile performance and efficiency. The announcement marks a key moment in semiconductor innovation, as Samsung Foundry’s cutting-edge 2 nm technology promises improvements across computing power, energy use, AI tasks and thermal management — areas where earlier chips have struggled.
At the core of the Exynos 2600 lies a 10-core CPU based on Arm’s v9.3 architecture, comprising a high-performance C1-Ultra prime core alongside multiple performance and efficiency cores. Samsung claims this configuration delivers up to 39 % higher CPU performance compared with its predecessor, the Exynos 2500, while maintaining power efficiency that helps extend battery life.
Graphics performance also gets a significant boost, thanks to the Xclipse 960 GPU, which offers roughly twice the compute power and up to 50 % better ray tracing performance than older Exynos GPUs. To enhance gaming visuals further, Samsung has integrated Exynos Neural Super Sampling (ENSS) — an AI-driven feature that uses resolution upscaling and frame generation for smoother, more detailed gameplay.
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On the AI front, the Exynos 2600 sports a powerful neural processing unit (NPU) with 32K MAC capability, delivering more than 113 % improvement in generative AI performance compared with previous designs and enabling on-device intelligence for tasks like image editing and advanced assistance. Camera and multimedia systems are also enhanced: devices featuring this chip will support sensors up to 320 MP, advanced real-time scene analysis, deep-learning noise reduction and 8K video recording at 30 fps or 4K at 120 fps. These capabilities reflect Samsung’s push to bring flagship-grade imaging to its own silicon ecosystem.
Thermal performance, historically a weak point for Exynos chips, has been addressed with a new Heat Path Block (HPB) design that improves heat dissipation, lowering thermal resistance and helping sustained performance under heavy workloads. Memory and storage technologies such as LPDDR5X RAM and UFS 4.1 storage support ensure the chip meets demands of modern apps and media.
The Exynos 2600 is widely expected to debut in select Galaxy S26 series models in early 2026, especially in regions like Europe and Asia, offering a homegrown alternative to competitor processors. With its blend of architectural upgrades, AI prowess and efficient design, Samsung aims to reclaim leadership in premium mobile chip technology — a challenge that’s been ongoing amid fierce competition from Qualcomm and Apple.
