Samsung is preparing Exynos 2600 for Galaxy S26
By ForGeeks Samsung Foundry has started prototype mass assembly of the 10-core Exynos 2600 processor. The production run requires achieving a 70 percent yield of yearly chips.
Despite the current 2nm process yield issues, Samsung Foundry continues to work on a new Exynos 2600 chip that could form the basis of the Galaxy S26 series of smartphones. Samsung’s LSI division and Foundry’s manufacturing facilities have now launched so-called prototype mass production aimed at accelerating testing and improving chip quality.
Samsung’s LSI division and Foundry’s manufacturing facilities have launched so-called prototype mass production aimed at accelerating testing and improving chip quality.
A 30 percent yield makes production unprofitable
According to industry sources, as of early 2025, the yield of year-old crystals from a single layer of silicon on Samsung’s 2nm process is around 30%. Since May, the company has targeted growth to 50%, but even that level is considered insufficient for a commercial launch. Only when 70% is reached will Samsung be able to approve the Exynos 2600 as the main chipset for the Galaxy S26 and S26+ in a number of regions.
Low yield means that only a few of the hundreds of crystals produced are usable, raising the cost of each yearly chip. The higher the yield percentage, the lower the unit manufacturing cost. The analogy is simple: if only 30 out of 100 baked cookies are edible, they cost three times as much to produce as 75.
GAA architecture improves power efficiency of Exynos 2600
Exynos 2600 will be one of the first mobile chips manufactured using the Gate-All-Around (GAA) architecture using a 2nm process. In this architecture, transistors span the channel on all four sides, reducing current leakage and increasing control current. This improves power efficiency and processor performance over traditional FinFET solutions.
The chip will get 10 cores, and the full production cycle is scheduled to begin tentatively in December or January. By then, Samsung intends to complete the risk production phase, which continues to tune processes and optimize yields.
Snapdragon 8 Elite 2 remains the primary solution for the Galaxy S26 Ultra
If Samsung Foundry is able to provide the necessary output level, the Exynos 2600 chip will be used in the Galaxy S26 and S26+ in markets in Europe and other regions outside of the US, Canada and China. In those countries, Samsung will continue to use Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite 2 processor, which is manufactured on TSMC’s 3nm process.
For the Galaxy S26 Ultra, regardless of region, Samsung has already approved the use of the Snapdragon 8 Elite 2 as the sole chip.
The Samsung is prepping the Exynos 2600 for the Galaxy S26 was first published on ITZine.ru.
