The Exynos 2600 chip could debut with a copper-based heat sink and 2nm architecture, boosting Galaxy S26’s performance and thermal control.
Samsung Tackles Overheating with Cooling Innovation
Samsung is reportedly integrating a dedicated cooling chip into the upcoming Galaxy S26 series, aiming to fix the long-standing heat issues associated with its Exynos processors.
- The solution centers on a Heat Path Block (HPB)—a copper-based heat sink.
- It will be used for the first time in the Exynos 2600, the expected chipset for the Galaxy S26.
What Is the Heat Path Block (HPB)?
The HPB is a thermal dissipation solution designed to absorb heat directly from the processor.
- Positioned on top of the Exynos 2600 and beneath the DRAM, it fits within the PoP (Package on Package) structure.
- This design enables the HPB to absorb heat efficiently during intense CPU or GPU activity.
- Samsung believes this will stabilize performance during gaming, multitasking, and AI operations.
Key Specs of the Exynos 2600
The Exynos 2600 is shaping up to be Samsung’s most ambitious chip yet.
- Built on Samsung’s 2nm process for better efficiency and performance.
- Features a deca-core CPU architecture using Arm’s latest cores.
- Includes a next-gen Xclipse GPU, jointly developed with AMD for improved graphics rendering.
Early Benchmarks Show Promise
Initial test results suggest mixed but promising performance:
- CPU tests show Exynos 2600 still trailing Snapdragon 8 Elite.
- But in early 3DMark GPU tests, the Exynos chip outperforms Snapdragon, showing potential for graphic-intensive tasks.
These early scores, combined with the cooling tech, suggest Samsung is seriously focused on thermally optimized performance.
Development Timeline and Launch Plans
Samsung aims to complete quality testing of the Exynos 2600 with HPB by October 2025.
- If testing is successful, mass production will begin in time for the Galaxy S26 launch.
- The Galaxy S26 series is expected to debut in February 2026 with three models:
- Standard S26
- S26 Edge (replacing the Plus variant)
- S26 Ultra, possibly with 60W fast charging and major hardware upgrades
Samsung’s Renewed Focus on Chips
This move follows Samsung’s broader push into high-performance semiconductors:
- The company recently signed a large chip deal with Tesla.
- Internal efforts to revamp the mobile chip division suggest a more competitive Exynos roadmap moving forward.
