As competition intensifies in the mobile processor market, the technology race between Qualcomm and Samsung is entering a new phase. We saw the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 launch in September, making its way into 2026 Android flagships, but this chip is still based on the 3nm process. Competitor Samsung is preparing to directly challenge the Exynos 2600, which will be manufactured on a more advanced 2nm process.
Samsung’s 2nm Move and Performance Claims
Samsung’s anticipated Exynos 2600 chipset, like the Snapdragon 8 Elite, is expected to power the Galaxy S26 series. Early rumors suggest that Samsung’s 2nm-based chip could surpass Qualcomm’s current Elite model in both speed and efficiency.
Qualcomm is preparing to meet this challenge with its first 2nm-based chipset, the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6, expected to be unveiled in late 2026. According to the latest report from reliable leaker Digital Chat Station (DCS):
- Manufacturing Process: The new flagship SoC (System on a Chip) will be manufactured using TSMC’s 2nm N2P node. N2P is a more refined version of the first-generation N2 process, which is expected to be used for Apple’s future A20 and A20 Pro chips.
- Expected Gains: The transition to 2nm will bring expected standard gains, including better power efficiency and higher performance density compared to the current 3nm process.
- Technological Upgrades: DCS also claims that the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 will also support next-generation LPDDR6 RAM and UFS 5.0 storage technology.
Technological advancements rarely come cheap. The combination of a new manufacturing process, faster memory, and upgraded storage could significantly increase the overall cost of the chipset. This means Qualcomm’s next flagship chip may not be seen in every high-end phone by 2027. Rumors suggest that standard flagship models could use the Snapdragon 8 Gen 6, while higher-priced Ultra versions could be dedicated to this more powerful Elite variant. This strategy could help manufacturers maintain pricing flexibility across their flagship lines.
