Samsung’s next-generation Exynos 2600 processor, expected to power its next flagship smartphone, the Galaxy S26, has been revealed with its first performance test. A prototype of the chipset, which will be built using Samsung’s revolutionary 2-nanometer (nm) GAA process, has surfaced in the Geekbench 6 database. While initial results are lower than expected, this is likely due to the processor’s relatively early development phase.

The Galaxy S26 will come with a 10-core Exynos 2600

The Exynos 2600, listed in the Geekbench database as model number S5E9965, features a total of 10 cores arranged in a 1+3+6 stack architecture. This architecture reflects a modern approach seen in competitors like MediaTek’s Dimensity 9400 series.

However, the single- and multi-core scores in the leaked test results may seem disappointing at first glance. Experts agree that this is perfectly normal. The clock speeds of the prototype being tested appear to be unoptimized and limited to a low of 3.55 GHz. It’s anticipated that Samsung engineers will both increase the clock speeds and significantly improve performance through overall optimization before the chipset’s release.

The key feature that makes the Exynos 2600 special is that it will utilize Samsung’s latest 2nm GAA (Gate-All-Around) manufacturing technology. This technology promises lower power consumption and higher efficiency compared to the current 3nm process. This signals the first signs that the Galaxy S26 series could offer both higher performance and longer battery life.

Prototype mass production of the processor, which began in June, is expected to be completed in the third quarter of this year. Samsung is reportedly focusing on improving the efficiency of the 2nm technology during this process and believes this lithography will be in high demand for the next four years.

Another noteworthy detail is that the device undergoing performance testing is equipped with 12GB of RAM. Samsung was expected to make 12GB of RAM standard in the Galaxy S25 family, which it introduced in early 2024. This leak indicates that the company will continue to offer users a high standard by maintaining this memory capacity in the Galaxy S26 series.