The race to shrink semiconductor processes is shifting to the next-generation "2nm (nanometer)" node. According to industry sources, Samsung Foundry is betting heavily on 2nm process technology, with plans to be the first in the industry to put a 2nm chip into the Galaxy S26 series, slated for release in the first half of 2026. This could give Samsung a chance to get ahead of Apple and Qualcomm and reclaim a technological edge in the high-end smartphone market—but improving yield appears to be the key to making that happen.
Samsung Making Progress on 2nm Process Development? – Expectations for the Exynos 2600
The semiconductor process technology used determines the performance of the SoC (System on a Chip)—the brains of a smartphone. Currently, the "A18" chip in Apple's latest iPhone 16 series, and Qualcomm's "Snapdragon 8 Elite" chip used in Samsung's Galaxy S25 series, are both manufactured using a "3nm" process.
The next focal point is the even more finely scaled "2nm" process. Until now, Apple has tended to be the first to adopt TSMC's latest process nodes, but that situation may be about to change.
Samsung Foundry, Samsung's semiconductor manufacturing division that has struggled in the past to develop cutting-edge semiconductor process technology, is reportedly making significant progress on its own 2nm process development. Specifically, plans are said to be underway to equip the "Galaxy S26" series, expected to be announced in early 2026, with an in-house designed chip called the "Exynos 2600," built using this 2nm process.
In the past, Samsung consolidated on Qualcomm-made chips for the Galaxy S25 series due to performance and yield issues with Exynos chips. However, if development on this 2nm process goes smoothly, the Exynos brand could make a comeback armed with a cutting-edge process node.
According to recent reports, prototype chips of the Exynos 2600 are being manufactured using Samsung's 2nm GAA (Gate-All-Around) process, and the yield at this prototype stage reportedly reached 30%. GAA is a new transistor structure that replaces the conventional FinFET structure and is expected to further improve performance and reduce power consumption. This prototyping is said to have begun in May 2024, and some observers believe this leaves room to improve yield before mass production. In order for the Exynos 2600 to be included in the Galaxy S26, chip design reportedly needs to be finalized by Q3 2025.
Rivals Apple and TSMC's Moves – A Solid Setup and Track Record
Meanwhile, Apple and its key supplier TSMC are also steadily advancing their own transition to the 2nm process. According to prominent analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, Apple plans to adopt a TSMC-made 2nm chip for the "iPhone 18" series, set to launch in the second half of 2026.
TSMC's 2nm process prototype yield has reportedly already exceeded 60%. Kuo notes that this figure may be three months old, meaning it has likely improved further by now. TSMC is said to be capable of producing up to 50,000 2nm wafers per month by the end of 2025, and is seen as having an advantage over Samsung in mass production capacity as well.
In other words, if Samsung can bring the Exynos 2600 to market as planned in early 2026, it could gain more than a six-month lead over the Apple/TSMC camp. However, that's purely a matter of "market launch timing"—whether Samsung can actually surpass TSMC in terms of yield, production capacity, and real-world chip performance remains uncertain.
Qualcomm Also Joins the 2nm Race – A Partnership with TSMC?
Qualcomm, another giant in the smartphone chip market, is also advancing development of its own 2nm process chip. According to leaker Digital Chat Station, Qualcomm has begun developing its next-generation flagship chip, tentatively called the "Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 3," which is expected to be manufactured using TSMC's 2nm process.
This chip is also expected to arrive in 2026, but at this point it's unclear whether it or Samsung's Exynos 2600 will reach the market first. If Qualcomm also relies on TSMC's 2nm process, Samsung could potentially get ahead, depending on TSMC's mass production schedule. Should Samsung fail to successfully mass-produce its in-house Exynos 2600 on the 2nm node, this Qualcomm-made 2nm chip would likely be the fallback choice for the Galaxy S26 series.
Lessons from the Past and Challenges to Overcome – Can Samsung Avoid a Repeat of 3nm?
While there's a possibility Samsung could get ahead on the 2nm process, optimism should be tempered. The company announced the world's first mass production of a 3nm GAA process back in 2022, appearing to be ahead of TSMC at the time. In reality, however, it struggled with yield issues, failed to secure major customers, and ended up falling significantly behind TSMC.
In this round of 2nm process development as well, the reported prototype yield of 30% is still far from the roughly 70% threshold generally considered the minimum needed for mass production. Whether Samsung can close this gap and establish a stable mass production system will be the biggest factor determining the success or failure of its "comeback" scenario.
There are also reports from Korean media suggesting Samsung may cut its foundry business investment in half in 2025, to around 5 trillion won (roughly 500 billion yen), as well as leaker information hinting at the possibility of outsourcing Exynos chip manufacturing to TSMC. If these reports turn out to be true, they could well affect Samsung's own 2nm process development and mass production plans.
For Samsung, success with the 2nm process would serve as a crucial litmus test for restoring confidence in its foundry business and reclaiming market share. Can the company overcome the bitter lessons of its 3nm experience, clear the technical hurdles and mass production challenges, and bring the Exynos 2600 to market as planned? All eyes will be on what happens next.
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Reports suggest Samsung could beat Apple to market with a 2nm-chip-equipped phone via the next-gen Exynos 2600, arriving in early 2026. Improving yield is the key challenge, while competition with TSMC and Qualcomm intensifies. Here's a breakdown of the latest developments in the semiconductor process race.