Samsung Exynos 2600 Official: World’s First 2nm GAA SoC

Samsung has officially announced the Samsung Exynos 2600, making it the world’s first smartphone processor built on a 2nm GAA (Gate-All-Around) process. This launch marks a major step forward for mobile silicon, with Samsung positioning the Exynos 2600 as the foundation for its next generation of flagship chipsets.

Built on the latest Arm v9.3 architecture, the Exynos 2600 brings a redesigned CPU cluster, a significantly more powerful GPU, and a much stronger AI engine. Compared to the previous Exynos 2500, Samsung claims noticeable improvements not only in raw performance, but also in efficiency and thermal behavior.

2nm GAA Process: A New Foundation for Mobile SoCs

The Samsung Exynos 2600 is manufactured using Samsung Foundry’s 2nm GAA technology, which replaces conventional FinFET structures with a more advanced gate-all-around design. This allows better control over power leakage and current flow, enabling higher performance at lower voltages.

Samsung describes the Exynos 2600 as a platform-level chip, meaning it is designed to scale and evolve across future Exynos flagships rather than being a one-off upgrade.

CPU Performance: Arm v9.3 Deca-Core Design

At the heart of the Samsung Exynos 2600 is a ten-core CPU based on Arm’s latest Cortex-C1 series:

• 1× Cortex-C1 Ultra clocked at 3.8GHz
• 3× Cortex-C1 Pro at 3.25GHz
• 6× Cortex-C1 Pro at 2.75GHz

This configuration delivers up to 39% higher CPU performance compared to the Exynos 2500, particularly in sustained workloads and demanding multitasking scenarios.

Xclipse 960 GPU: Focus on Gaming and Graphics

Graphics duties are handled by the Samsung Xclipse 960 GPU, continuing Samsung’s collaboration with AMD-based GPU technologies. According to Samsung, GPU performance sees gains of up to 100%, alongside major improvements in efficiency.

The chip supports hardware ray tracing, enhanced lighting effects, and Exynos Neural Super Sampling (ENSS) for AI-assisted frame generation. In supported titles, Samsung claims gaming smoothness improvements of up to 300%, making the Exynos 2600 one of the most gaming-focused Exynos chips to date.

Also Read — Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 Unveiled: Full Features & Key Highlights

AI and NPU: On-Device Intelligence Gets a Boost

AI processing has been significantly upgraded with a 32K MAC NPU, delivering up to 113% improvement in AI performance. This allows faster and more complex on-device AI tasks, including real-time image processing, video enhancement, and advanced generative features.

Samsung also confirms support for AI-powered ISP algorithms, DVNR, and VPS technologies, further strengthening camera and video processing.

Camera, Display, and Media Capabilities

The Exynos 2600 is built to support next-generation imaging hardware:

Single camera support up to 320MP

108MP capture at 30fps

Dual-camera configurations up to 64MP + 32MP

For displays and video, the chipset supports:

4K / WQUXGA resolution at 120Hz

8K video recording at 30fps

8K playback at 60fps

Hardware decoding and encoding for HEVC, H.264, VP9, AV1, and APV

Memory, Storage, and Thermal Improvements

The chipset supports LPDDR5X RAM and UFS 4.1 storage, ensuring compatibility with flagship-class memory and storage solutions.

Samsung has also introduced a redesigned mobile SoC thermal pathway, using high-k dielectric materials to improve heat dissipation. As a result, thermal resistance is reduced by up to 16%, helping maintain stable performance during prolonged use.

Conclusion

The Exynos 2600 represents a strategic shift for Samsung, introducing 2nm GAA manufacturing, major AI gains, and a stronger focus on sustained performance. While real-world results will ultimately determine its success, the specifications suggest one of the most significant generational upgrades in Exynos history.

As smartphones continue to rely more on AI, gaming, and high-resolution imaging, the Exynos 2600 sets a clear direction for Samsung’s flagship silicon going forward.

Hasnain Hasan

Hasnain Hasan is the founder and lead writer behind this platform. With over 5 years of hands-on experience in the tech industry, he specializes in breaking down the latest trends, tools, and technologies into easy-to-understand content. A part from writing, Hasnain is actively creating and sharing tech-related content on YouTube, Instagram, and X (formerly Twitter), where he connects with a growing audience of tech enthusiasts and learner