Reports from late 2025 and early 2026 show that Samsung is mass-producing the Exynos 2600 with its 2nd-generation 2NM gate-tolerant (GAA) transistor technology. Wells have improved to 50-60%. This progress means the chip can be used in the Galaxy S26 series, helping Samsung rely less on Qualcomm.
Volume Production & Yield Status
- Yield improvements: Samsung’s 2nm (SF2) reportedly started low (around 30% in early 2025) but increased steadily to ~40% by mid-2025 and reached 50-60% by the end of 2025, according to various reports.
- Samsung officially began mass production of the Exynos 2600 in the last quarter of 2025. By early 2026, reports showed yields were stable enough for the Exynos 2600 to be used in the Galaxy S26 and S26 Plus models, while the Galaxy S26 Ultra is expected to use Qualcomm’s Snapdragon chips.
- Initial production was about 15,000 wafers, and capacity is expected to grow as yields get better.
New GAA Transistor Technology (SF2)
The 2NM GAA process is a significant advancement, delivering measurable improvements in both power efficiency and performance compared to Samsung’s previous 3NM GAA process. For example, the 2NM process reduces energy consumption and increases chip operational speed compared to the 3NM variant.
- Reports indicate the 2NM GAA process offers approximately a 5% performance improvement and 8% better power efficiency over the 3NM GAA process, making the newer node notably more efficient in real-world applications.
- Specifically, the SF2 node provides up to a 12% increase in performance, 25% improvement in power efficiency, and 5% reduction in chip area compared to Samsung’s earlier 3NM nodes (SF3), offering tangible advantages for manufacturers and end users.
- Advantage: Samsung is using its early experience with GAA technology, first introduced at 3nm, to stabilize the 2nm more quickly than before. Substack+32600 is designed to power the Galaxy S26 series in select markets (likely Europe and Korea), while the S26 Ultra is expected to continue using Qualcomm’s Snapdragon chips.
- Achieving a 50 to 60% yield marks substantial progress for Samsung, but the company remains behind TSMC, which reports 2NM process yields of 60 to 70%. Samsung aims to stay competitive by offering lower prices.
- Future outlook: If yields continue to rise, reaching 70% in 2026, Samsung could win back major foundry orders from big clients like Qualcomm.
Samsung is advancing its semiconductor technology with the Exynos 2600, built using the company’s 2NM gate-all-around (GAA) process. Recent reports state that the trial production run achieved a 30% yield. While this represents a milestone for Samsung, it is still below TSMC’s 2NM yield, which is reported at about 60%.
Why This Matters For Samsung
The semiconductor industry is very competitive, and manufacturing efficiency directly affects profitability and cost management. Even though Samsung is still behind TSMC, reaching a 30% yield is a clear improvement, especially after its earlier difficulties with 3nm production. Higher yields mean more working chips per wafer, reducing unit costs and potentially improving profit margins. While 30% is still below the 70% that big customers like Qualcomm and MediaTek expect, it shows that Samsung’s semiconductor division is moving in the right direction, both financially and technically.
Samsung’s Foundry business has struggled to gain the trust of major clients due to previous yield issues, particularly with its 4nm and 3nm nodes. Now the 2NM process offers the company a chance to rebuild its reputation. If yields continue to improve, Samsung could secure orders for flagship mobile processors, AI chips, and high-performance computing components in the near future.
Exynos 2600, A Game Changer
The Exynos 2600, also known as Ulysses, is expected to power Samsung’s next flagship devices and could help the company increase revenue through more premium smartphone sales. Right now, Samsung uses Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite in its Galaxy S25 series, so improving its own chip production could lower supplier costs and boost overall profitability by reducing its reliance on outside vendors.
Samsung has been trying to make its Exynos processors more competitive by improving power efficiency, thermal management, and overall performance. The 2NM GAA process brings major upgrades over the previous generation, offering higher transistor efficiency and greater performance per watt. Samsung’s progress in chip manufacturing could also impact AI, automotive, and data-center technology, not just smartphones. As the need for fast, power-efficient processors grows, producing advanced chips at scale will be key to Samsung’s long-term success.
Difficulties and Opportunities
Although reaching a 30% yield is meaningful progress, Samsung still faces significant challenges before it can compete directly with TSMC in large-scale chip production. The company needs to:
- Improve Yield Efficiency: Achieving 70% yield is necessary to secure bulk orders from major tech companies.
- Strengthening client trust, surmounting past production setbacks, and exhibiting consistency will help attract major customers.
- Expand production capacity: ensuring that its facilities are ready for mass production without compromising quality will be vital for scaling up.
- Advance GAA Technology: While Sachin is the head of TSMC, it must improve its GAA implementation to fully realize the benefits.
Despite these challenges, Samsung’s ongoing investment in semiconductor research and infrastructure shows its determination to compete at the top level.
What’s Next?
Samsung plans to start mass production of its 2nm SF2 process in the second half of 2025. SF2 offers a 12% performance boost, 25% better power efficiency, and uses 5% less area compared to SF3. These technological upgrades could help Samsung compete for premium contracts, increase sales, and improve its financial position in high-end smartphones and advanced computing sectors.
If Samsung can raise its yield to match TSMC’s, it could become a strong competitor in the foundry market again and win back market share. The company’s long-term aim is to become a player in semiconductor manufacturing, competing with TSMC and even Intel in the years ahead.
While Samsung has a long way to go before its 2nm process becomes a commercial success, achieving a 30% yield is a step in the right direction. If the company continues upgrading its technology and manages costs and investments effectively, it may soon rival TSMC and secure major chip manufacturing contracts.
The semiconductor competition is still ongoing, and with rapid technological progress, Things could start to favor Samsung. Keep watching as the race for semiconductor leadership continues.
Source: Samsung’s Exynos 2600 Hits 30% Yield on 2nm Process–A Step Toward Closing the Gap with TSMC
