Galaxy S26's 2nm Snapdragon chip could bring good news for Samsung

While the Galaxy S25 lineup exclusively used the Snapdragon 8 Elite For Galaxy chip globally, the Galaxy S26 series could use a mix of Exynos 2600 and Snapdragon 8 Elite 2 For Galaxy chips. Interestingly, both those chips are said to be made on Samsung Foundry's 2nm process, which is great news for the South Korean tech giant.

According to a report from Business Post Korea, Qualcomm is developing two variants of its upcoming Snapdragon 8 Elite 2 chip for flagship phones. The regular version is reportedly made by TSMC on its new 3nm process node, while the other variant of the chip could be fabricated on Samsung Foundry's 2nm process node.

The stock version of the Snapdragon 8 Elite 2 is said to be codenamed Kaanapali, while the Samsung-made version carries codename Kaanapali S. The regular variant has already been tested and will enter the mass production phase soon so that it can be announced in September 2025. It will likely be used by all Android smartphone makers other than Samsung. The other variant of the chip is still in the testing phase and could be mass-produced in the first quarter of 2026.

Currently, Samsung Foundry's 2nm process yield is said to have recently exceeded 40%, and the company is now trying to reach 60% yield before the end of this year.

The Galaxy S26 series will be launched in the first quarter of next year and could have four models: Galaxy S26, Galaxy S26+, Galaxy S26 Edge, and Galaxy S26 Ultra. All the phones will either use the Exynos 2600 chip, which is designed by Samsung's System LSI division, or the Qualcomm-made Snapdragon 8 Elite 2. Both are reportedly 2nm chips made by Samsung Foundry.

It was recently reported that Samsung has paused the development of its 1.4nm process node so that the company can focus on improving the yields of its 2nm process. Once the mass production of the Exynos 2600 and the Snapdragon 8 Elite 2 For Galaxy starts, the company is eyeing to start making 2nm AI chips at its plant in Taylor, Texas in the USA in the second half of next year.

Qualcomm is also said to be testing a chip codenamed ‘Trailblazer' on Samsung Foundry's 2nm process node. It isn't a smartphone chip, though. The report claims that it is either a CPU for supercomputers or an automobile chip.