Samsung failed to debut its Exynos 2500 chip alongside the Galaxy S25 due to poor yield of its 3nm process. However, that may not be the case with the next-generation Exynos 2600 chipset, built on a cutting-edge 2nm process. The company reportedly plans to start mass production of the Exynos 2600 in the second half of this year, hinting the chip will power the upcoming Galaxy S26 series, at least in some regions.
Samsung may launch the Galaxy S26 with its 2nm Exynos 2600 chipset
So far, Samsung has made significant improvements to its 2nm process yield. The Korean firm has recently secured nearly 50% yield, and is expected to improve further in the coming months. Industry analysts say that when yields normally exceed 60%, stable mass production becomes viable. And it looks like Samsung will soon hit that threshold for its 2nm process.
First spotted by noted tipster @Jukanlosreve, Samsung revealed plans to start mass production of 2nm mobile products in the second half of this year in its recently published quarterly business report. While the company did not specify the mobile chipset name, the Exynos 2600 is the only 2nm mobile chip it has in development. This chip is expected to power the upcoming Galaxy S26 series.
Samsung has adopted several new strategies across its semiconductor division, from leveraging AI to advanced semiconductor manufacturing equipment. It uses the Gate-All-Around (GAA) architecture for its 2nm process, the same technology as the 3nm process. This should give an advantage as the company now has experience optimizing GAA for better performance and yields.
Only time will tell if Samsung can stabilize its 2nm process in the coming months and integrate its Exynos 2600 chip into the Galaxy S26. If successful, this would be a great achievement for its Foundry division, which has been struggling lately. It would also boost confidence among OEM partners and help Samsung compete more effectively with industry leader TSMC in the 2nm era.
