Samsung Set to Begin Mass Production of In-House Chip for Galaxy S26

Samsung is poised to enter the mass production phase of its proprietary system-on-a-chip (SoC), the Exynos 2600, aimed at powering the upcoming Galaxy S26 smartphone. This development positions the company to claim a leading role in the race for the first smartphone featuring a 2-nanometer processor.

According to industry insiders reported by the Korea Times, the production of the Exynos 2600 is expected to commence this September. Successfully launching this chip would mark a significant victory for Samsung Foundry, particularly given its recent struggles with the 3-nanometer technology, which has allowed competitors like TSMC to dominate the market.

The transition to smaller chip structures is crucial as it can reduce power consumption while enabling the integration of more transistors within the same chip area. However, the complexity of manufacturing increases as the size of the structures decreases. In June, reports indicated that Samsung had begun prototype mass production of its 2-nanometer chips, suggesting that the manufacturing process has been refined enough to scale up production.

In the past, Samsung has employed both its own Exynos chips and Qualcomm's Snapdragon processors in its Galaxy devices, depending on the market and model. The latest Galaxy S25 series exclusively uses Qualcomm chips, a situation that Samsung aims to rectify with the introduction of the Exynos 2600.

The Exynos 2600 features a redesigned thermal management system intended to address previous overheating issues. If Samsung can achieve a satisfactory yield rate during production, it could attract orders from other chip developers, including Qualcomm, which is seeking reliable manufacturing partners. There is reported interest from companies such as Nintendo, Tesla, and Valens, which could lead to better utilization of Samsung Foundry's manufacturing facilities.