Samsung Announces World's First 2nm Mobile Chip Ahead of Apple

[MacRumors]

Samsung has officially unveiled the Exynos 2600, the world's first 2 nanometer mobile system-on-a-chip (SoC), built on the company's Gate-All-Around (GAA) process. The 10-core ARM-based design aims to deliver improved performance and efficiency for flagship devices like the upcoming Galaxy S26 series.

The chip uses Arm's latest cores and supports new instructions for improved CPU speed and on-device AI, with Samsung claiming up to a 39 percent boost in CPU performance and 113 percent faster NPU performance, enabling larger and more efficient AI workloads. Its GPU is based on the latest Xclipse design, which Samsung says doubles previous graphics performance and boosts ray tracing by up to 50 percent.

Earlier Exynos processors earned a poor reputation for running hot and throttling performance, particularly when compared with competing chips from Apple. To address those shortcomings, Samsung has introduced a new thermal approach called Heat Path Block (HPB). The technique uses a High-k EMC material to improve heat dissipation, enabling the Exynos 2600 to maintain higher performance levels for longer periods, even under sustained heavy workloads, claims Samsung.

Apple is widely expected to adopt the 2nm process node for several devices in 2026, albeit using TSMC's 2nm (N2) process. Apple has reportedly secured a significant portion of TSMC's initial N2 production capacity, with the A20 and A20 Pro chips for the iPhone 18 lineup expected to be the first Apple silicon built on this node. The N2-based processors would succeed Apple's A17 Pro through A19 Pro chips, fabricated using TSMC's series of 3nm processes.

Compared to current 3nm chips, TSMC's 2nm process promises up to 15 percent higher performance at the same power level, or 25 to 30 percent lower power consumption at the same performance level. The process also achieves approximately 15 percent higher transistor density, allowing more functionality to be packed into the same physical space.

Apple's first 2nm chips are likely to debut in iPhone 18 Pro models and Apple's first foldable iPhone, all of which are expected to launch in late 2026. Beyond iPhones, Apple's M6 series for future Macs could also use TSMC's 2nm process, although we haven't heard any specific rumors that this will be the case.

Article Link: Samsung Announces World's First 2nm Mobile Chip Ahead of Apple

 

[MGrayson3]

I understand the arms race, but how much of a difference does it make before someone switches systems because of performance? The one time I switched to Windows, it was because Diablo wasn't available on the Mac. 😎

 

[N0ughtsAndCr0sses]

As expected.

It’s always the runner up who is more motivated than the leader and soon they’ll surpass the top man.

Read it in the past tense, obviously 🤣🤣🤌🏻🤌🏻

 

[Tig_one]

I understand the arms race, but how much of a difference does it make before someone switches systems because of performance? The one time I switched to Windows, it was because Diablo wasn't available on the Mac. 😎

True, but considering what they put out as D4, you weren't missing much.

 

[Leon Ze Professional]

Personally, I hope Samsung is very successful with the exynos 2600 SOC. As competition between TSMC and Samsung will help to keep 2nm SOC prices more reasonable.

Eventhough TSMC SOCs are the clear leaders at the moment. Its interesting to see Samsung be first to use the GAA process which even TSMC is atill striving to eventually move too.

 

[RightMACatU]

Not happy about this Samsung news? Do feel free to apply the two-foot rule. Turn around and use your feet to walk away - no one needs to know about your grumpiness. I for one appreciate news that compete with Apple products and services.

 

[thelion7]

Samsung has officially unveiled the Exynos 2600, the world's first 2 nanometer mobile system-on-a-chip (SoC), built on the company's Gate-All-Around (GAA) process. The 10-core ARM-based design aims to deliver improved performance and efficiency for flagship devices like the upcoming Galaxy S26 series.

The chip uses Arm's latest cores and supports new instructions for improved CPU speed and on-device AI, with Samsung claiming up to a 39 percent boost in CPU performance and 113 percent faster NPU performance, enabling larger and more efficient AI workloads. Its GPU is based on the latest Xclipse design, which Samsung says doubles previous graphics performance and boosts ray tracing by up to 50 percent.

Earlier Exynos processors earned a poor reputation for running hot and throttling performance, particularly when compared with competing chips from Apple. To address those shortcomings, Samsung has introduced a new thermal approach called Heat Path Block (HPB). The technique uses a High-k EMC material to improve heat dissipation, enabling the Exynos 2600 to maintain higher performance levels for longer periods, even under sustained heavy workloads, claims Samsung.

Apple is widely expected to adopt the 2nm process node for several devices in 2026, albeit using TSMC's 2nm (N2) process. Apple has reportedly secured a significant portion of TSMC's initial N2 production capacity, with the A20 and A20 Pro chips for the iPhone 18 lineup expected to be the first Apple silicon built on this node. The N2-based processors would succeed Apple's A17 Pro through A19 Pro chips, fabricated using TSMC's series of 3nm processes.

Compared to current 3nm chips, TSMC's 2nm process promises up to 15 percent higher performance at the same power level, or 25 to 30 percent lower power consumption at the same performance level. The process also achieves approximately 15 percent higher transistor density, allowing more functionality to be packed into the same physical space.

Apple's first 2nm chips are likely to debut in iPhone 18 Pro models and Apple's first foldable iPhone, all of which are expected to launch in late 2026. Beyond iPhones, Apple's M6 series for future Macs could also use TSMC's 2nm process, although we haven't heard any specific rumors that this will be the case.

Article Link: Samsung Announces World's First 2nm Mobile Chip Ahead of Apple

Good on them!

Be interesting to see how it stacks up against the A19 and A19 Pro!

 

[WarmWinterHat]

I understand the arms race, but how much of a difference does it make before someone switches systems because of performance? The one time I switched to Windows, it was because Diablo wasn't available on the Mac. 😎

Little to none; node scaling, at this point, is a * measuring contest. It's fun to discuss, though!

 

[MayaUser]

In what product this is? Apple announce it along side with an actual product for the consumers..

 

[MBAir2010]

id buy that
if I could
pronounce
that!

Exynos? exie-nose????

 

[Moukee]

Whatever Samsung calls its "2nm" process isn't comparable to whatever TSMC calls its "2nm" process. Intel could call their next process "1nm" and it would still be worse.

 

[boswald]

Doesn’t mean anything when the phone throttles or explodes.

 

[alphaswift]

Competition is good.

That said, I think Intel has the right idea to drop nanometers and start using Angstroms. Everyone building chips should start using it.

 

[1037]

1.6nm or bust..

 

[DaveEcc]

The 2nm part of the story is fine. Nice to see another fab in competition, and as a possible future partner.

But... the CPU is 113 39% faster. Ok. That's an entirely meaningless number in a vacuum. I don't follow Samsung... 113 39% faster than which CPU? How many nm was their previous CPU? What was that chip's performance like? Will a 113 39% boost to that performance still make it a slowpoke compared to Apple's chips, or will it actually compete?

The article does nothing to help sort out any questions.

edit: Someone noted I'd mixed up the percentages. Oops. Point still stands, numbers in a vacuum are meaningless.

 

[HazeAndHahmahneez]

Samsung? Chips? It probably is infected with Google stuff so yeah. Easy pass. No thanks 🤢

 

[FyrStrike]

Sumsung just wants to be first if they hear that Apple is doing somthing on theor roadmap. Likley wasting alot of resources just to do so as well.

 

[I7guy]

Samsung announces and Apple eats their cake.

 

[citysnaps]

Eh... Not a biggie regarding Apple's roadmap. Life goes on.

 

[HouseLannister]

In what product this is? Apple announce it along side with an actual product for the consumers..

It will be used in some models of the S26 series in select regions (Asia and Europe most likely). That announcement will be in Jan/Feb.

 

[ksec]

The Samsung 2nm is actually closer to TSMC 3nm then 2nm. Although it does have GAA, so think of it as 2.5nm

 

[RumorConsumer]

MacRumors doing their part to keep Johny Srouji hungry and angry just the way we like him.

 

[bigglow]

I understand the arms race, but how much of a difference does it make before someone switches systems because of performance? The one time I switched to Windows, it was because Diablo wasn't available on the Mac. 😎

The better question is how does this die process compare to that of TSMC N3P that was applied to the iPhone 18 Pro Max chip and M5 chip?

 

[Parowdy]

T

I understand the arms race, but how much of a difference does it make before someone switches systems because of performance? The one time I switched to Windows, it was because Diablo wasn't available on the Mac. 😎

his has nothing to do with users switching. It’s just a big technological feat being reported on.
If performance per nm would be a big selling point everyone would be using iPhone, iPads and Macs.
Apparently performance of modern phones is so good, we see bigger improvements in battery technology.

 

[justanotherdave]

Personally, I hope Samsung is very successful with the exynos 2600 SOC. As competition between TSMC and Samsung will help to keep 2nm SOC prices more reasonable.

Eventhough TSMC SOCs are the clear leaders at the moment. Its interesting to see Samsung be first to use the GAA process which even TSMC is atill striving to eventually move too.

Competition would only exist if the Exynos 2600 was used in numerous devices. Samsung won’t even use it exclusively for their Galaxy 26, and will rely on Qualcomm for major markets around the world.

Samsung simply doesn’t sell enough of these to make them competitive.

Now if they could convince companies like Xiaomi, OPPO and others to use their processors then Qualcomm would have some competition.

Neither of these companies trying to outdo each other has any effect on Apple, who are playing in their own league.