Samsung Unveils Exynos 2600: Industry's First 2nm Chipset for Smartphones

Samsung has announced its latest mobile processor, the Exynos 2600, built using a state-of-the-art 2nm process from TSMC. This makes it the first smartphone processor of its kind. According to the company, the Exynos 2600 boasts a redesigned neural processing unit (NPU), delivering a substantial 113% performance increase compared to the previous generation.

The processor incorporates a 10-core CPU architecture, leveraging the new C1-Ultra and C1-Pro cores. In a departure from previous designs, Samsung has opted for a configuration that omits low-power cores, instead utilizing a blend of mid-range and high-performance cores.

Performance gains extend beyond the NPU. Samsung indicates that the Exynos 2600 provides up to a 39% performance boost over last year's Exynos 2500. Graphics capabilities are also enhanced by the inclusion of the Xclipse 960 GPU, which offers a 50% improvement in ray-tracing performance. Furthermore, this GPU incorporates AI-driven resolution scaling and frame generation technologies.

For photography and videography, the Exynos 2600 supports camera sensors up to 320MP. It also enables zero shutter lag for 108MP sensors and facilitates 8K video recording at 30fps, along with 4K video capture at 120fps with HDR.

Addressing a long-standing concern with the Exynos line, Samsung claims to have significantly improved thermal management in the Exynos 2600. Its new Heat Path Block technology, combined with a High-k EMC, enhances heat dissipation efficiency. Samsung states that this approach reduces thermal resistance by up to 16%, resulting in a more stable internal temperature even during demanding tasks.

While official confirmation is pending, the Exynos 2600 is widely anticipated to power the upcoming Galaxy S26 and Galaxy S26 Plus smartphones. Tech enthusiasts will likely have to wait several weeks to evaluate the real-world performance of this new processor in those devices.