Samsung's Galaxy S26 and S26 Plus to Feature Advanced 2nm Exynos 2600 Chipset

Samsung is poised to reintroduce its proprietary Exynos processors in the upcoming Galaxy S26 and S26 Plus models, marking a significant shift in its chipset strategy. Historically, the tech giant has alternated between its in-house Exynos chips and Qualcomm's Snapdragon processors across different regions. However, the Galaxy S25 series exclusively utilized the Snapdragon 8 Elite due to production challenges with the Exynos 2500.

According to a report from Korean media outlet FNNews, Samsung has formed a dedicated task force to optimize the performance and production of the Exynos 2600. This new chip is expected to be built on Samsung’s 2nm “SF2” process, and insiders claim it has already shown significantly improved yield rates compared to its ill-fated predecessor. Samsung is reportedly targeting the chip’s mass production by May, though the final decision on whether it will power the Galaxy S26 series won’t be made until the end of the year.

The Exynos 2600 is anticipated to be a 2nm chipset, designed by Samsung's System LSI division and manufactured using the latest lithography techniques by Samsung Foundry. While specific details about the chip's architecture remain undisclosed, it's speculated to feature a GPU based on AMD's RDNA 4 architecture. Mass production of the Exynos 2600 is expected to commence in the latter half of this year. 

In terms of regional distribution, the Galaxy S26 and S26 Plus are likely to be equipped with the Exynos 2600 in select markets. Conversely, regions such as China, Japan, South Korea, and North America may receive variants powered by Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Elite 2 processor. Notably, the Galaxy S26 Ultra is projected to feature the Snapdragon chipset across all regions, maintaining consistency in performance for the flagship model.

This strategic move underscores Samsung's commitment to advancing semiconductor technology and reducing reliance on external suppliers. By integrating the 2nm Exynos 2600 into its flagship devices, Samsung aims to deliver enhanced performance and energy efficiency, potentially setting a new benchmark in the smartphone industry.