Samsung Foundry is gearing up to commence mass production of a prototype version of its decacore Exynos 2600 application processor (AP). However, the success of this endeavor hinges on improving yield rates from the current levels.
Recent trials have indicated that Samsung Foundry’s yields on the 2nm process node are hovering around a concerning 30%. In response, the company is actively pursuing enhancements to reach a target yield of 70%.
This improvement is crucial for the feasibility of mass-producing the Exynos 2600. Higher yields translate to a greater number of functional chips from each silicon wafer, thus lowering the overall production cost.
To illustrate, if a bakery bakes 100 cookies but only 30 are edible, those 30 cookies bear the entire production cost. Conversely, a yield of 75 edible cookies would effectively distribute the costs, making each cookie cheaper.
At the beginning of the year, Samsung Foundry recorded a 30% yield for its 2nm trials. Since then, the facility has aimed for a 50% yield, with a necessary rise to the 70% mark to justify mass production.
The Exynos 2600 stands out as one of the first APs to be manufactured using the 2nm process, incorporating Gate-All-Around (GAA) transistors. These transistors enhance performance and energy efficiency by reducing current leakage.
Once prototype production is completed, Samsung will initiate risk production while continuing to refine yield rates. Official mass production could be underway by December or January, just ahead of the anticipated February release of the Galaxy S26 series.
The Exynos 2600 is set to power the Galaxy S26 and S26+, especially in Europe and various other regions, while the Snapdragon 8 Elite 2 AP from Qualcomm will be featured in markets like the U.S., Canada, and China.