Samsung unveils the Exynos 2600: this is how it wants to regain trust with its first 2nm GAA chip

After months of leaks, conflicting rumors, and much doubt about the future of their own chips, Samsung has finally given a name and face to the Exynos 2600The new processor was officially unveiled via a short YouTube video, more akin to a TV series trailer than a traditional technical announcement, with which the company is attempting To make it clear that he has listened to the criticism and that he takes this return to the forefront very seriously.

The underlying message is clear: The brand wants to regain confidence in the Exynos family After inconsistent generations and decisions that left a bad taste in Europe, such as the performance of the Exynos 2400 versus the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 in the Galaxy S24. Now, with a completely redesigned chip manufactured in a 2 nanometer processSamsung aims to catch up with the best in the industry and, in doing so, reduce its dependence on external suppliers.

A teaser with a self-critical tone: "In silence, we listened"

The presentation video of Exynos 2600, titled simply The next ExynosIt lasts about 30 seconds, but it's packed with messages. Its aesthetic is very reminiscent of the atmosphere of Stranger ThingsMessages appear such as "In silence, we listened", "Refined at the core" y "Optimized at every level" which hint at some self-criticism and the promise of profound changes in the chip's internal architecture.

Far from giving closed specifications, Samsung opts for a more symbolic than technical approachThere are no frequency figures or performance charts, but the chosen phrases suggest that the company has focused on the points that gave users the most headaches: energy efficiency, temperatures, long-term stability and consistency compared to Snapdragon and Apple SoCs.

The very format of the teaser is significant. This is the first time Samsung has generated excitement with a video dedicated exclusively to an Exynos processor.This is something they usually reserve for flagship products like the Galaxy S series or their foldable phones. This marketing effort suggests that the company is convinced the 2600 has the potential to change the public perception of the Exynos brand.

The message between the lines is clear: The half-hearted experiments are over.The company wants the next generation leap to be remembered not for uncomfortable comparisons with Qualcomm, but for being the point at which its processors once again compete head-to-head in the high-end market.

First 2nm Exynos with GAA technology: lower power consumption and better thermal control

Beyond the tone of the video, the big news lies in the chip's core: The Exynos 2600 will be Samsung's first mobile SoC manufactured using a 2-nanometer process with Gate-All-Around (GAA) transistors.This node, developed by Samsung Foundry, represents the next step after the 3nm GAA, with which the company had already conducted its first tests.

The GAA architecture allows more precise current control than classic FinFETsreducing leaks and improving efficiency. On paper, the brand's internal data speaks of performance and power consumption improvements of around one percentage point compared to its own 3nm GAA, but the key is that this leap is combined with a redesign of the rest of the system: CPU, GPU, NPU, and thermal management.

One of the technologies that is being talked about the most is Heat Pass Block (HPB)a proprietary solution that acts as a kind of integrated heat sink within the chip's package. According to company executives, this system could reduce the temperature by up to 30% In certain scenarios, this favors more stable sustained performance during long gaming sessions or when recording high-resolution video.

In practice, this should translate into several tangible advantages: More screen time on the same batteryThere are fewer performance drops due to overheating when the processor is under heavy load, and a generally smoother experience in everyday use. These kinds of improvements are especially relevant in markets like Spain and Europe, where many users vividly remember the overheating problems of certain previous generations.

CPU with up to 10 cores and Xclipse GPU with AMD DNA

Although Samsung has not yet published the final technical specifications, Leaks and early benchmarks paint a picture of a very ambitious CPUIn prototypes, a configuration is mentioned of 10 nuclei divided into three blocks: a core Prime for maximum performance, a group of three powerful cores for intensive tasks and six efficiency-focused cores for lighter tasks.

Those same internal tests mention frequencies that are around 4,2 GHz for the main core, around 3,5 GHz for the high-performance cores and approximately 2,4 GHz for the efficient cluster; however, Samsung itself and various sources agree that These figures could be adjusted with regard to the commercial product to balance consumption, temperatures and stability.

Where there is more agreement is in the graphic section: The GPU will be a next-generation Xclipse developed in collaboration with AMDVarious leaks indicate it will be the Xclipse 960, based on RDNA 3 architecture, with improved support for ray tracing and other advanced graphics techniques designed for demanding mobile video games.

That leap in GPU performance is not insignificant: the first performance data that has emerged suggests that The graphics capabilities of the Exynos 2600 could clearly be considered superior to some direct competitors.Leaked tests mention gains of up to 75% compared to a certain Apple SoC in GPU scenarios, and a notable advantage over the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, although caution is advised here because the test conditions are unknown.

In any case, the CPU+GPU combo is completed with a much more muscular NPUDesigned to run artificial intelligence models locally, the company's focus on Galaxy AI and features like real-time translation presents a challenge in processing this volume of data on the device itself without impacting battery life or causing overheating.

Filtered performance: on par with Apple and Qualcomm, with a focus on efficiency

The other major strength of the Exynos 2600 is its overall performance compared to the competition. The first leaked benchmarks place it on par with the most powerful SoCs from Apple and Qualcomm in gross power, with special emphasis on energy efficiency.

In synthetic scenarios, some sources indicate that the new Exynos would be positioned Slightly better than the Apple A19 Pro in GPU and that It would match or surpass the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 in sustained performance, especially when thermal management and power consumption come into play. Other reports mention significant improvements in performance per watt, an area where Samsung had historically lagged behind.

In the field of artificial intelligence, the following are mentioned: performance increases of up to six times compared to previous generations of Apple Under certain workloads, this aligns with the idea of ​​a specially enhanced AI coprocessor. The focus here isn't so much on lab scores as it is on delivering tangible experiences: advanced photo and video editing on mobile, contextual assistants, content generation, and faster, more discreet translations.

It is worth emphasizing that All these figures come from leaks and preliminary tests.Neither the consumption profiles used nor the exact status of the prototypes are known, so the final performance could differ. Even so, the consensus among analysts is that Samsung, for the first time in quite some time, has a chip with real potential to compete on equal footing with the industry leaders.

The missing piece to complete the puzzle was manufacturing performance. The step to 2 nm GAA initially complicated production yieldsThis threatened to make the chip expensive and difficult to scale. Various sources in Korea indicate that these problems have been corrected and that the percentage of functional chips per wafer has increased from around 30% to between 50% and 60%, enough to consider mass distribution in high-end mobile phones.

Galaxy S26: the showcase of the Exynos 2600, with Europe at its center

All this technical development wouldn't make much sense without a flagship product to showcase it. This is where the brand's next generation of mobile phones comes in: el Galaxy S26 It will be, barring any plot twists, the first major showcase for the Exynos 2600Samsung has already hinted that the new SoC is specifically designed for its 2026 flagship phones.

The most frequently repeated predictions indicate that isolate and deprive dual chip will maintain the strategy by region. Thus, the Models destined for Europe and South Korea would be equipped with the Exynos 2600Meanwhile, the United States and China would continue to focus primarily on the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5. Again, the goal is to balance trade agreements while simultaneously leveraging their own chips where it is most advantageous.

In Spain and the rest of the continent, this means that Many users will once again encounter a high-end Galaxy S with an Exynos processor.After the experience of the S24 in our market, the bar is set high: a clear leap in battery life is expected, less overheating in games, and sustained performance that doesn't make us look with envy at the Snapdragon versions that will be sold in other countries.

As for the schedule, everything points to the The full announcement of the Exynos 2600 will take place between December and January., followed by an Unpacked event in early 2026. Some sources place that event in late January or February, with the commercial launch of the new Galaxy S26 shortly afterwards.

Regarding the phones themselves, The leaks indicate that the generational leap in design and cameras It could be quite a lot of content.There's talk of minor adjustments to screen size, battery, and thickness, and a slight improvement to the Ultra model's fast charging, up to 60W, but nothing groundbreaking. If confirmed, the series' focus could shift even more towards the processor and the AI ​​features it enables.

Context, prices and what's at stake for Samsung with the Exynos 2600

The launch of the Exynos 2600 is not understood solely as a technical move; It is also a strategic move for Samsung's semiconductor divisionThe company has recently suffered several setbacks: the inconsistent performance of some Exynos processors, a poor brand image in forums and social media, and moves like Google's decision to stop using Samsung Foundry for its latest generation Tensor processors and switch to TSMC.

With this new SoC, the firm seeks to demonstrate that it remains at the forefront of the industry And it's capable of producing competitive chips not only for its own phones, but also for potential external clients. In fact, the Exynos 2600 wouldn't be limited to the Galaxy S26 series: other manufacturers could integrate it into their own devices if they wished.

From the European user's point of view, the debate boils down to very specific issues: that the phone lasts until the end of the day with battery life, that it doesn't overheat for no reason, and that the experience isn't hampered by the chip.In that sense, Samsung's bid to get ahead of Qualcomm, MediaTek, and Apple in the 2nm race is also a way of trying to make a difference in efficiency and battery life.

Regarding the impact on people's wallets, analysts point out that The Galaxy S26 could become between $50 and $100 more expensive than the previous generation.This could translate in Spain to price increases of between 47 and 95 euros, including taxes. If these predictions hold true, it wouldn't be surprising to see the base model easily surpass the 1.000 euro mark.

At the same time, Samsung is making moves on other fronts in its chip business. Reports from Korea indicate that The company has reportedly completed the development of HBM4 memorywith promises of up to 60% higher performance compared to HBM3E. Although this type of memory is designed for data centers and large-scale AI applications, it reflects the brand's global effort to strengthen its position in semiconductors, a key area for its future.

After several years of ups and downs, the Exynos 2600 is positioned as Samsung's most serious attempt yet to win back users who viewed its own processors with suspicionA 2nm GAA chip, a significantly improved CPU and GPU, an NPU designed for the new wave of AI features, and a clear focus on efficiency are the cornerstones of a proposition with which the company aims to compete at the highest level once again. The real test will come when the first Galaxy S26 With this SoC, sales will begin in Europe, and day-to-day use will confirm - or not - that this time the change goes beyond the slogan.

Related article:

Samsung Galaxy S26: Design, Thickness, and Battery Changes in Detail

Alberto navarro

I am a technology enthusiast who has turned his "geek" interests into a profession. I have spent more than 10 years of my life using cutting-edge technology and tinkering with all kinds of programs out of pure curiosity. Now I have specialized in computer technology and video games. This is because for more than 5 years I have been writing for various websites on technology and video games, creating articles that seek to give you the information you need in a language that is understandable to everyone.

If you have any questions, my knowledge ranges from everything related to the Windows operating system as well as Android for mobile phones. And my commitment is to you, I am always willing to spend a few minutes and help you resolve any questions you may have in this internet world.