Exynos 2600 Shows Impressive Thermal Management in New Tests
With the recent launch of Samsung’s Galaxy S26 series, attention has turned to the Exynos 2600 chip powering the base S26 and S26+ models in select regions. Early hands-on tests by tech enthusiasts have now provided clear evidence that Samsung has addressed the long-standing thermal throttling problems that plagued previous Exynos processors. A detailed thermal imaging analysis reveals that the Exynos 2600 maintains significantly lower temperatures under heavy load, marking a major improvement for Samsung’s flagship-grade chip.
Key Details from Thermal and Performance Testing
Vietnamese tech YouTuber Vật Vờ Studio’s Long Ngong conducted rigorous testing on the Galaxy S26 and S26+, running demanding games such as League of Legends: Wild Rift, Genshin Impact, and Honkai Impact 3rd at maximum graphics settings. Throughout these sessions, the ambient temperature was kept steady at around 26°C to ensure consistent conditions. The results were promising: during League of Legends gameplay, the Galaxy S26’s surface temperature averaged approximately 32°C. In longer sessions with Genshin Impact on the S26+, the front temperature peaked at 38°C, while the back ranged between 37°C and 37.5°C. Even with Honkai, which occasionally caused frame rate drops, the front temperature maxed out at 39°C and the rear just above 38°C.
These figures indicate a substantial reduction in heat generation compared to previous Exynos chips, which often suffered from noticeable hotspots and aggressive thermal throttling under similar conditions. The thermal imaging clearly shows the absence of the notorious “heat bubbles” around the CPU area, signalling that Samsung’s new cooling solutions are effective.
Technological Innovations Behind the Thermal Breakthrough
Samsung’s success with the Exynos 2600 is the result of three major technological advancements. Firstly, the chip is the company’s first to utilise the 2nm Gate-All-Around (GAA) process. This cutting-edge 3D transistor architecture features vertically stacked nanosheets completely surrounded by the gate, enhancing electrostatic control and reducing voltage thresholds, which improves overall power efficiency.
Secondly, the Exynos 2600 adopts Samsung’s new Fan-Out Wafer-Level Packaging (FOWLP) technology. By replacing traditional substrate-based packaging with a wafer-level approach, this method allows for a more compact chip design with direct silicon connections. This not only reduces the chip’s size but also improves electrical performance and thermal dissipation.
Lastly, the introduction of Heat Path Block (HPB) technology plays a crucial role. This copper-based heat sink is in direct contact with the application processor and relocates the DRAM to the side, enhancing thermal resistance by up to 30%. This innovative design effectively channels heat away from critical components, preventing thermal bottlenecks that previously limited performance.
This is the absolute power of HPB in the Exynos 2600 — notice how those infamous “heat bubbles” around the CPU area are gone. The thermal bottleneck of high-performance SoCs has been solved. A new era is coming lol pic.twitter.com/lYK8J5iXuA
— Lu (@luancastro_lc) February 27, 2026
Context and What This Means for Samsung
Samsung’s Exynos chips have historically lagged behind their Snapdragon counterparts, particularly in terms of thermal management and sustained performance. The Exynos 2600’s advancements mark a significant step forward, potentially closing the gap in regions where Samsung continues to use its own silicon. This development follows a recent debate comparing the Exynos 2600 to the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, where performance differences were scrutinised extensively.
By resolving the thermal throttling issues, Samsung can now offer a more consistent and reliable user experience on its flagship devices powered by Exynos. This could influence consumer perception positively and strengthen Samsung’s position in competitive markets.
Looking Ahead
As the Galaxy S26 series rolls out globally, it will be interesting to see how the Exynos 2600 performs in real-world usage over extended periods. Further independent testing and user feedback will help confirm whether Samsung’s thermal innovations translate into lasting benefits. For now, the evidence suggests that Samsung has made a meaningful breakthrough in chip design, signalling a new era for its in-house processors.
For those interested, the detailed thermal imaging and performance tests can be viewed in the video by Vật Vờ Studio, providing a comprehensive look at the Exynos 2600’s capabilities under load.