Samsung's next big bet for the high-end, the Exynos 2600 manufactured in 2 nmgives something to talk about again. According to several test leaks in Geekbench 6, an engineering sample would have reached figures of monocore at the level of the Apple M5 chipthe chip that powers the new entry-level MacBook Pro. If confirmed, it would be a historic turn for an Exynos family that for years has trailed Apple and Qualcomm.
The numbers released place the Exynos 2600 with peaks of 4,217 points in single-core and 13,482 in multi-core in a configuration ten cores (1+3+6)with frequencies up to 4.20 GHz for the main core. In parallel, the first records of the Apple M5 they surround the 4,260 points in single coreso the gap narrows as never before. In addition, everything comes accompanied by promises of important improvements on NPU and GPUa key area for on-device generative AI.
What the leaked benchmarks say
The scores that have come to light speak of an Exynos 2600 that would equal Apple in monocore and would improve Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 in some tests, although they are still data from a pre-production silicon. Greater efficiency in multicore tasks is also mentioned, attributed to the jump to 2nm with GAA transistorswith records that would reduce consumption compared to Apple's rival generation. As always in this area, it is worth remembering that an isolated benchmark does not reflect sustained performance nor the thermal behavior on a real phone.
By architecture, leaks describe a cluster 1+3+6 with a “prime” core around 4.20 GHz, three performance cores around 3.56 GHz and six efficiency cores at 2.76 GHz. If Samsung maintains these frequencies in commercial models, we could see tangible improvements in latencies, loading times and AI tasksin addition to an improvement in games with a GPU that, on paper, would lead up to 29% to its direct rival from Qualcomm.
Why it matters for the Galaxy S26
If these figures were transferred to the final product, the Exynos 2600 would go from being a simple alternative to becoming the preferred option in markets where Samsung uses its own chip. For the user, this means better single-core performance (smooth interface, common apps and camera), competitive multicore (video export, editing and demanding games) and a more capable NPU which can accelerate real-time translation, generative editing and Galaxy AI without depending on the cloud.
It would also have a strategic impact: a Galaxy S26 Ultra with Exynos would return to the scene in some regions, reducing dependence on Qualcomm and homogenizing experiences between variants. Of course, all this must be confirmed through independent tests and the verdict of the final software.
When will we see it on a mobile?
Rumors place the Exynos 2600 on Galaxy S26 series with regional deployment. There is talk of Europe and Korea with Exynos and the United States, China or Japan with Snapdragon. The most mentioned date points to early 2026with the presentation of the Galaxy S26 family at the end of February. Until then, caution: a leak does not equal official confirmation and frequencies, drivers and thermal limits may still change.
Exynos 2600 technical sheet (leaked)
- Manufacturing process: 2nm (GAA).
- CPU: 10 cores (1+3+6); until 4.20GHz in the main core (engineering sample).
- Geekbench 6 (leaked): 4,217/13,482 (single-core/multi-core).
- Approach: NPU and GPU improvements for AI and graphics; goal of greater energy efficiency.
A jump that, if confirmed, would change the script
The figures are spectacular and show an exciting 2026 for Android. But the real test will be with commercial mobiles, sustained tests and definitive software. Do you think Samsung has finally found the key to compete head to head with Apple and Qualcomm? We read you in the comments.
