Samsung’s first 2nm smartphone chip takes a modular approach, prioritizing performance and thermals over built-in radios
Exynos 2600: A Major Shift in Samsung’s Chip Strategy
Samsung’s newly announced Exynos 2600 marks a fundamental departure from the company’s previous in-house smartphone chips. While it’s the first-ever 2nm mobile SoC from Samsung, the standout change isn’t just the advanced manufacturing node — it’s what’s missing from the chip.
- No integrated 5G modem
- No built-in GPS, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, UWB, or NFC
This contrasts sharply with previous generations like the Exynos 2400, which included the Shannon 5153 modem and integrated wireless radios.
Modular Modem Strategy: External Modem Replaces Built-in Solution
The Exynos 2600 will rely on an external modem, likely the Shannon 5410, according to tipster @erenylmaz075.
- The Shannon 5410 is rumored to support:
- 2G to 5G, including NTN (satellite) connectivity
- Advanced features like energy efficiency and enhanced uplink performance
Samsung is also expected to pair the Exynos 2600 with the S6568 wireless chip, which supports Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6.1 — making up for the lack of integrated wireless components.
Why Drop the Built-In Modem?
Samsung’s design shift is believed to be driven by thermal and performance priorities:
- No integrated modem means lower heat generation, especially under sustained workloads
- The saved die space allows Samsung to include larger or more advanced IP blocks:
- CPU: Likely based on ARM’s next-gen cores
- GPU: Possibly featuring an upgraded AMD RDNA-based architecture
- NPU & ISP: Improved AI and imaging capabilities
- More transistors and simplified chip architecture could translate to better sustained performance, lower throttling, and enhanced battery efficiency
Not Unprecedented — But Rare
While many smartphone SoCs feature integrated modems, Samsung isn’t alone in opting for modularity:
- Apple uses separate modem chips (from Qualcomm) in all current iPhones
- Some iPads and Macs follow the same approach
Still, in Android SoCs, Qualcomm and MediaTek typically integrate modems, making Samsung’s strategy a notable exception in the Android space.
What Devices Will Use Exynos 2600?
Samsung is expected to debut the Exynos 2600 in:
- Galaxy S26
- Galaxy S26+
These devices will reportedly be paired with the external Shannon 5410 modem and S6568 wireless chip for complete connectivity.
The Real Test: Performance in the Wild
On paper, the Exynos 2600’s modular design, 2nm fabrication, and simplified layout offer big promises:
- Better thermal efficiency
- Higher sustained performance
- Flexible integration with external wireless components
However, real-world benchmarks and user feedback will be critical to assess:
- Can it compete with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 4, Apple A18, and MediaTek Dimensity 9400?
- Will separating the modem negatively impact latency, power draw, or device size?
Samsung’s Exynos 2600 takes a bold new direction by ditching the integrated modem and wireless radios. Built on a 2nm process, this chip opts for external connectivity solutions to boost performance, reduce heat, and allow more space for advanced CPU and GPU cores.
