Although Samsung’s first flagship chipset, the Exynos 2600, produced using 2nm Gate-All-Around (GAA) technology, will be featured in the base models of the Galaxy S26 series, the distribution region for devices equipped with this processor is limited to South Korea. CTT Research, a Korean research firm, cites three main reasons for this restriction based on past experience.
Processor Development for the Galaxy S26
With the new Exynos 2600, Samsung appears poised to offer a powerful alternative to rivals like Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 and MediaTek’s Dimensity 9500.
However, according to an analysis published by CTT Research in September, the global availability of Samsung flagships powered by Exynos processors is largely due to core security vulnerabilities, low production yields, and overheating issues. The company notes that due to these past issues, most overseas units are equipped with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon chips.
Samsung’s return to its dual-chipset distribution strategy with the Exynos 2600, after three generations of Snapdragon-only Galaxy S models, is a significant step. However, despite its initial confidence in its 2nm GAA chip, the company is limiting the Exynos 2600-powered Galaxy S26 models to its home market. Users in other regions will receive Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 variants.
Production developments are underway. When mass production of the Exynos 2600 began on the 2nm GAA process, initial yields were reported as 50%. This represents a significant improvement over Samsung’s 3nm GAA process.
Samsung also claims to have addressed the overheating issue with a technology called “Heat Pass Block.” A Samsung executive stated that this addition reduces temperatures by 30% and acts as a heatsink on the chip die, aiding heat transfer. The switch to Fan-out Wafer Level Packaging (FOWLP), introduced on the Exynos 2400, also aims to improve heat resistance.
However, while the past issues cited by the research firm provide plausible justifications, the real reason the vast majority of Galaxy S26 shipments contain the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 is an agreement with Qualcomm.
This agreement mandates that 75 percent of Samsung’s Galaxy S shipments use the San Diego-based company’s high-end chipset. If Samsung attempts to reduce its chipset spending by increasing its use of the Exynos 2600, it risks facing a hefty fine.
