Exynos 2600 Unveiled: Samsung Launches World’s First 2nm Mobile Chip

Samsung has officially unveiled the details of its latest chip, the Exynos 2600, which is the market’s first-ever 2nm SoC. The upcoming Galaxy S26 models for the European market are expected to feature this new chip. Samsung’s commitment is clear: “no compromises.” The chip has been optimized across various domains including artificial intelligence, gaming, performance, and thermal management. Here’s everything you need to know about the Exynos 2600.

In early December, Samsung confirmed the development of its new high-end chip, the Exynos 2600, which is set to power some of the Galaxy S26 models, particularly those released in Europe, excluding the Ultra model. The announcement came through a 30-second video released on YouTube. Beyond the promise of “expressing the exceptional” without compromise, the South Korean company initially provided few details. However, the information was later expanded by a leaker, UniverseIce.

Not to be outdone, Samsung recently released another video on YouTube (which you can view at the end of this article). This video is almost two minutes long and reveals the key specifications of the Exynos 2600, described as the “first 2nm chip in the market” featuring a GAA (Gate-All-Around) architecture—a significant milestone for both the brand and the semiconductor industry.

The Exynos 2600: Introducing a New CPU Architecture in the First 2nm Market Chip

First, it’s important to note that all comparisons here are made against the Exynos 2500. Moving on to the specifics, the SoC incorporates a new CPU architecture. Samsung has moved away from smaller, low-power cores in favor of the new C1-Ultra and C1-Pro cores, based on the latest Arm v9.3 architecture. Specifically, the configuration includes:

• A main C1-Ultra core running at 3.8 GHz
• Three high-performance C1-Pro cores at 3.25 GHz
• Six efficiency-oriented C1-Pro cores at 2.75 GHz

Samsung reports a 39% improvement in CPU performance, enhanced on-device machine learning capabilities, and smoother AI operations. AI is indeed a cornerstone of the Exynos 2600: the company promises a 113% increase in generative AI performance, along with a safer experience through post-quantum hybrid cryptography.

Gaming and Photography: The Exynos 2600 Leverages AI and Tackles Heat Issues

The focus on AI is also evident in the completely revamped photo solution: the integrated ISP is intelligent and AI-driven to reduce power consumption and enhance detail. For instance, there’s noise reduction in videos using deep learning for improved low-light performance. The ISP supports photo sensors up to 320 megapixels and can record 8K video at 30 frames per second.

The Exynos 2600 could be the ultimate gaming companion for your next smartphone: it includes – as the leaker mentioned – a GPU Xclipse 960. This GPU could provide up to a 50% improvement in ray tracing performance. Additionally, the debut of Exynos Neural Super Sampling (ENSS) promises up to three times smoother gameplay through AI, which also helps manage power consumption.

Finally, the Exynos 2600 benefits from an innovative thermal architecture, being the first mobile SoC to feature the new Heat Path Block technology, which could reduce thermal resistance by up to 16%. This would address overheating issues noted in previous generations.