Galaxy S28’s Exynos 2800 Chipset Details Revealed Early

Samsung’s Exynos lineup has been going through a major evolution in recent years. After pushing boundaries with the Exynos 2600, which is world’s first 2nm smartphone processor, the company is now taking a more measured approach. The Exynos 2800 is expected to power the Galaxy S28 series in 2028, and early details of the chipset may have leaked.

Here’s what we know about Exynos 2800 so far

According to a new report from ZDNet Korea (via @jukan05 on X), the upcoming Exynos 2800 could focus less on aggressive innovation and more on stability, efficiency, and long-term reliability. One of the biggest changes involves the manufacturing process. Samsung reportedly dropped plans for a more aggressive 1.4nm node. Instead, Samsung will use a refined 2nm (SF2P+) process for the Exynos 2800.

This decision comes down to improving production yields, power efficiency, and overall reliability. Given Samsung’s past struggles with chip yields and efficiency, this move suggests the company is prioritizing real-world performance. It is focusing on this over marketing numbers.

A big push toward in-house development

At the same time, the Exynos 2800 could make a major shift in Samsung’s chip strategy. Reports suggest Samsung is working on a fully in-house GPU architecture and potentially custom CPU cores.

Similarly, there are indicators that Samsung could revisit custom CPU cores, something it was abandoned years ago after the Mongoose cores underperformed. Samsung has relied on AMD’s RDNA-based GPUs and on ARM’s cores in recent Exynos chips. However, the company may now move toward its own design to improve optimization and reduce costs.

This change in direction doesn’t come out of nowhere. Samsung’s Exynos chips have faced criticism for years, especially when compared to Snapdragon powered Samsung smartphones outside Europe, like US and China. Issues included lower performance, worse power efficiency, and thermal problems. The Exynos 2800 looks like an attempt to reset that reputation.

If everything goes according to plan, this chip could represent a redemption arc for Samsung. A more stable Exynos with stronger comeback, better competition with Qualcomm and Apple, and a stronger in-house ecosystem for Samsung. On paper, Samsung’s new approach makes a lot of sense. 

A smarter strategy, but still a risk

Focusing on a refined 2nm process and building more technology in-house could improve efficiency, reduce reliance on external partners, and deliver better long-term results. However, there are still risks.

Returning to custom CPU cores, for example, didn’t go well for Samsung in the past. Indeed, the last Exynos processor ever made with Samsung’s Mongoose cores was Exynos 990. This chip powered the Galaxy S20 and Galaxy Note 20 series in Europe. If the company repeats those mistakes, it could face the same issues again.