With Samsung's new generation flagship phoneGalaxy S26 seriesWith the release date fast approaching, details regarding the processor version configuration are also emerging.Gradually becoming clear.
Following the recent discovery that the US-spec Galaxy S26 (SM-S942U) and Galaxy S26 Ultra (SM-S948U) are equipped with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processor, a Korean-spec Galaxy S26 with the model number SM-S942N has also appeared in the Geekbench database. Data shows that Samsung expects the Galaxy S26 sold in the Korean domestic market to return to using...Their own Exynos 2600 processorThis also means that the Galaxy S26 series will maintain its "dual processor" product strategy in the global market.
Exynos 2600: The first 2nm GAA process processor
According to Geekbench 6 test data顯示The Galaxy S26, powered by the Exynos 2600, features 12GB of RAM and runs on Android 16.
The Exynos 2600 (model S59965) is considered a comeback product for Samsung Foundry, touted as the world's first mobile processor to use Samsung's 2nm GAA (Gate-All-Around) process technology. Its CPU features a 10-core architecture, including Arm's latest C1-Ultra and C1-Pro cores.
Samsung officially claims that the Exynos 2600 offers a 39% performance improvement over its predecessor, the Exynos 2500.
Regarding benchmark scores:
• Galaxy S26 (Exynos 2600):The single-core performance score is 3315.
• Galaxy S26 (Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5):The single-core performance score is 3378.
• Galaxy S25 (Snapdragon 8 Elite):The single-core performance score is 3175.
Although only single-core performance data is available for reference at present, and the test unit may still be an engineering prototype, it can be seen that the single-core performance of the Exynos 2600 is very close to that of the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, with a negligible difference between the two, and even significantly higher than that of last year's Galaxy S25.
GPU upgraded to RDNA 4 architecture?
In addition to the CPU design, the Exynos 2600 features a new Samsung Xclipse 960 GPU for graphics processing. Although benchmark data does not reveal architectural details, it is widely speculated that this GPU will be based on AMD's RDNA 4 display architecture (the previous generation was a hybrid of RDNA 2 and RDNA 3).
Samsung previously stated that the new GPU would double the computing power and improve ray tracing performance by 50%, attempting to regain ground in the gaming experience.
A dual-track strategy has been finalized: Qualcomm processors will be used in the US market, while Exynos processors will be reinstated in the South Korean and European markets.
Based on current leaks, Samsung will continue its dual-processor strategy with the Galaxy S26 series:
• US and Chinese markets:It is expected to use the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5.
• South Korean market:It has been confirmed that the Samsung Exynos 2600 will be used.
• Europe and other markets:No specific benchmark scores have been released yet, but based on convention, it is highly likely that it will use the Exynos 2600. However, it has not yet been confirmed which processor specification will be used in the Taiwan market.
Analysis of viewpoints
The exposure of the Exynos 2600 has two significant implications.
The first is the "yield verification of the 2nm process". In the past few years, Samsung has stumbled in its progress on advanced processes, and its yield and power consumption control have lagged behind TSMC. If the Exynos 2600 can be successfully mass-produced and used in its main flagship models, it means that Samsung's 2nm GAA process has achieved commercialization capability, which will be a strong boost to its wafer foundry business.
Secondly, there's the question of "the gap with Qualcomm." Looking at single-core benchmarks, the Exynos 2600 has truly caught up this time. However, what consumers care about most isn't peak performance, but rather "efficiency" and "heat dissipation."
In the past, Exynos models were often criticized for being power-consuming or prone to overheating. Whether the switch to a 2nm process can break this curse will be the focus of real-world testing after the Galaxy S26 is launched.
For Taiwanese consumers, although they have been "lucky" enough to use Snapdragon processor versions in the past few generations, it remains to be seen whether Samsung will adjust its supply strategy in the Asia-Pacific region if the Exynos 2600 performs well.
