Exynos 990 to Exynos 2600 Compared: Performance, Heat, and Upgrade Trade-Offs

Quick verdict

Choose an upgrade around the job your current Galaxy cannot do, its battery condition and its remaining software support. Exynos has changed substantially since the 990, but those changes do not establish one speedup that describes every app, game and phone.

For 990 owners, replacing a primary phone can make sense for its software life even when everyday apps remain usable. For 2100/2200 owners, the exact Galaxy matters: an S21, S21 FE, S22 and S23 FE have different current support positions. For 2400/2400e owners, keeping a healthy phone that meets your needs is the sensible starting point. For 2500 owners, distinguish the folding Flip7 from the S26 FE before deciding what the 2600 could improve.

Our recommendation is conditional: keep a phone that meets your tasks and ownership plans; investigate a confirmed battery problem before buying a replacement; upgrade when support, storage or a persistent workload limitation makes the current phone unsuitable. A newer chip alone does not settle the purchase.

Scope and comparison method

This guide covers Exynos 990, 2100, 2200, 2400, 2500 and 2600, with 2400e kept separate. It combines Samsung specifications and regional device documentation with measurements performed by independent reviewers. FlawCheck did not run the device tests cited here.

Three kinds of evidence answer different questions. Official specifications establish architecture or a supported feature. Samsung performance claims describe the company’s own comparisons. Independent reviews describe particular phones, configurations and workloads. Our upgrade recommendations are editorial judgments drawn from those sources and their limits.

The research collected 93 measurement entries from eight reviewed devices. Entries include paired single/multi-core scores and results from the same test; they are not 93 independent repetitions. Missing firmware, historical benchmark builds, game scenes, run durations and rendering details prevent a controlled comparison across all generations. Potential wattage results were excluded from efficiency calculations because their measurement boundaries and sampling conditions were insufficiently established.

Geekbench 5 and 6 stay separate. Even minor revisions need checking: Primate Labs documents workload changes in Geekbench 6.1 and SME-related considerations in 6.3. Likewise, different AnTuTu releases, GPU test tiers and onscreen/offscreen modes cannot be treated as interchangeable.

For the underlying definitions, see Smartphone Processor Specs Explained and Are Phone Benchmarks Reliable?. Here, the useful comparison is what each Exynos design enables and what the available phone tests actually demonstrate.

Exynos generations and Galaxy variants at a glance

The table identifies design changes and selected phones. Examples refer to verified Exynos variants, rather than every device carrying that Galaxy name. “Phone era” identifies the earliest commercial family verified in our source set; it is not the processor’s announcement date.

Several traps follow from this mapping. S25 FE is not a 2500 phone merely because “25” appears in its name. A review of Flip7 cannot represent S26 FE simply because both use 2500. Samsung’s separate German Flip8 documentation also identifies 2600, but we have no Flip8 test sample in this dataset. Sources: S25 FE, S26 FE, Flip8.

Retail milestones also differ from chip previews. Samsung previewed 2400 at its October 2023 event, while the S24 reached worldwide availability in January 2024. The verified Flip7 retail milestone is July 2025; S26’s is March 2026. These dates describe commercial availability of the families, with AP differences still requiring regional checks. Sources: 2400 preview, S24 availability, Flip7 launch, S26 availability.

CPU changes and everyday responsiveness

The architectural shifts are real

The 990 combines Samsung’s custom CPU cores with Arm cores. The 2100 moves to an all-Arm arrangement, followed by the 2200’s X2/A710/A510 configuration. These are meaningful changes in design; they do not, by themselves, measure how much faster an owner’s messaging app will open. Sources: 990, 2100, 2200.

The 2400 expands the CPU to ten cores. The 2500 advances to X925/A725 cores, while the 2600 uses one C1-Ultra and nine C1-Pro cores, with SME2 support. More cores and newer instructions create different opportunities for software, but the application’s workload and implementation determine what it uses. Sources: 2400, 2500, 2600 specifications.

Samsung reports up to 39% higher CPU computing performance versus Exynos 2500 for 2600 in internal testing. The disclosed comparison does not provide a complete reproducible protocol, so this figure is a manufacturer claim rather than a measured improvement in every Galaxy app. Samsung, notes 1–2.

What the collected CPU results can tell you

Notebookcheck’s S26 review sample records 3,060 single-core and 10,388 multi-core points in Geekbench 6. Separately, Tom’s Guide reports 2,975 and 10,303 for its Exynos S26 Plus. These observations belong to different samples; exact test builds and conditions are incomplete. We do not average them or use them to calculate a gain over older reviews. S26 review; S26 Plus review, parenthetical Exynos results.

For everyday use, start with the failure you can observe. Slow launches, repeated app reloads, a delayed keyboard and short battery life should not all produce the same purchase decision. Ask whether the problem persists after updates, app troubleshooting and storage management, then try that workflow on the candidate phone.

An owner whose current apps remain responsive has less reason to pay for unused CPU capacity. Someone whose essential export or processing job takes too long has a stronger reason to investigate a newer platform—but needs a test of that job. Our dataset does not establish export-time improvements, app-retention gains or touch-latency differences across these generations. What Makes a Phone Fast? covers the wider system factors.

GPU, gaming and sustained performance

Mali to Xclipse changes the feature set

The 990 and 2100 use Mali GPUs. Exynos 2200 introduces the RDNA 2-based Xclipse 920, including hardware ray tracing; 2400 and 2500 use RDNA 3-based Xclipse GPUs. This helps distinguish generations, but a hardware feature only matters when the game and software stack use it. Sources: 990, 2100, 2200 launch, 2400, 2500.

Samsung’s internal 2600 comparison claims twice the GPU computing performance of 2500. That metric does not establish twice the FPS in a game. ENSS supports upscaling and generated frames; results using those features must be distinguished from native rendering. We have not established their use in every cited game measurement. Samsung, notes 4 and 6.

Settings change the result on the same phone

Source: Notebookcheck S26, GameBench results. Scene, duration, render resolution and frame-generation status are unverified; these numbers are not a controlled upgrade comparison.

The practical question is whether your chosen phone meets your preferred combination of detail and frame rate. A low-detail result cannot promise the same FPS at maximum graphics. The table offers evidence for choosing a preset, rather than a promise about every game or a long session.

The longer load deserves its own evidence

Notebookcheck describes an approximately 75% performance decrease in its S20 Ultra sample during a 30-loop GFXBench Manhattan ES 3.1 battery test. That is a finding about that device and test. It is not a 3DMark stability result and cannot be converted into one for comparison with newer phones. S20 Ultra review.

Other reviews show why the stress workload must remain attached to the number. The Exynos S22 sample reports 56.4% Wild Life stability; the S24 FE sample reports 62.8% Wild Life Extreme stability. Those are different tests on different phones. Neither number describes average gaming FPS or proves which chip delivers a better session. S22 review; S24 FE review.

The S26 sample reports 48.8% Wild Life Extreme stability. According to UL, stability compares the worst loop with the best, rather than averaging all loops. This confirms variation under that stress workload despite the new packaging; it does not establish the session length, a game-specific FPS floor or the chip’s rank against older samples. S26 review; UL methodology.

For a gaming upgrade, look for the same game build, preset, rendering path, scene and meaningful session duration on the candidate phone. Frame-time traces would help evaluate interruptions that averages can conceal; our collected evidence lacks those traces. The explanatory background is in Phone Thermal Throttling Explained.

Heat, power and battery: three separate questions

A warmer surface does not identify the worse chip

Exact test builds and durations are unverified. These surface panels have incompatible load conditions and cannot establish which processor runs cooler.

These findings are useful warnings to investigate the exact model and task. They do not support a temperature league table. Surface measurements concern the exterior, while internal chip temperatures require different evidence. Performance reduction can also change the heat produced during a test, so a cooler exterior does not establish superior efficiency.

HPB is a design change with a limited claim

Samsung introduces FOWLP with 2400 and adds Heat Path Block and High-k EMC with 2600. For 2600, Samsung reports up to 16% lower thermal resistance than 2500 in internal testing. This is neither a 16% reduction in phone surface temperature nor a promise to eliminate throttling. Sources: FOWLP; HPB, note 9.

Likewise, 3nm GAA and 2nm GAA identify process changes. They are reasons to examine finished-phone performance and efficiency tests, not enough evidence to declare that every newer Galaxy runs cooler. Cooling design, operating limits and workload still need to accompany the result.

Battery condition can change the upgrade decision

This guide does not publish a watts-per-chip comparison, FPS/W ranking or generation-wide battery-life gain. The collected power candidates lack sufficient protocol detail, and phone endurance also needs its own device-level evidence. A process label or battery capacity cannot settle how long a particular phone lasts in your routine.

On an older Galaxy, check actual runtime and Battery usage alongside Samsung Members diagnostics. Samsung describes Normal, Weak and Bad battery states; these are qualitative results, not an 80% capacity measurement. A service assessment can help determine whether battery replacement addresses the problem. Samsung battery guidance.

If the battery is the confirmed limitation while storage, tasks and support still fit, compare a current repair quote with replacement cost. Repair does not renew software support, and this article does not promise that a new battery removes throttling. See Replace the Battery or Buy a New Phone? for that ownership decision.

Camera, AI and connectivity: check implementation

Exynos capability ceilings can differ from the phone you buy. The 2200 supports an ISP resolution up to 200MP, yet Samsung’s Vietnam S23 FE listing specifies a 50MP main camera and 8K24 recording. That is a concrete reason to read both the chip specification and the device specification. Sources: 2200, S23 FE.

The 2400, 2500 and 2600 specifications list ISP support up to 320MP. This describes supported input resolution, rather than the sensor fitted to a Galaxy or the quality of its photographs. Our evidence does not establish camera-quality improvements or sustained recording/export gains between all these models. Sources: 2400, 2500, 2600.

For an upgrade, name the camera requirement: a zoom range you use, a recording mode, reliable extended capture or a particular editing job. Confirm that the destination model implements it and consult relevant device tests. A CPU or ISP specification alone cannot promise the result.

AI specifications need the same discipline. NPU resources and supported operations change across the range, but unlike-for-like TOPS, MAC counts and manufacturer AI claims do not measure the response time of one shared Galaxy feature. We have no matched application-level AI tests here. Check the feature’s availability and actual workflow rather than making NPU capacity the purchase verdict. Samsung specifications: 2100, 2500, 2600.

A controller capability does not establish the hardware or enabled features of every retail variant.

Verify the exact phone’s bands, carrier compatibility and enabled features. Chip-level modem or satellite capability is insufficient to establish a service on every SKU. Regional documentation and carrier information matter more than assuming that an imported Galaxy matches the local version.

The modem arrangement also changes: Samsung introduced 990 alongside the separate Modem 5123, whereas 2100 integrates a 5G modem. Samsung’s 2600 security blog describes communication with Modem 5410; it does not establish the modem fitted to every Galaxy variant. These architectural details alone cannot predict battery life on your network. Sources: 990 launch, 2100 launch, 2600 security architecture.

Upgrade advice by the Exynos generation you own

990: weigh remaining device life first

For an S20, Note20 or verified 990 S20 FE, everyday usability and software life can point in different directions. These families are absent from Samsung’s current recurring security-update list as checked on September 30, 2026. That does not prove an exceptional future patch is impossible. It does make regular support a concrete consideration for a primary phone. Samsung security scope.

Keep an otherwise useful device when its role, tasks and support expectations remain acceptable. Consider repair if the battery is the main problem. If you want a primary phone with years of recurring updates, plan replacement around the destination model’s support and condition; it need not be the most expensive 2600 Galaxy.

A Note20 owner should also protect the S Pen workflow. Samsung’s French documentation confirms S Pen on the family and microSD expansion on the Ultra. Do not assume those capabilities transfer to a base Galaxy or FE, or that the standard Note20 has the Ultra’s storage expansion. Samsung Note20 documentation.

2100/2200: distinguish S21, S21 FE, S22 and S23 FE

Original S21 models are absent from the current recurring list; S21 FE and S22 are listed quarterly, while S23 FE is listed monthly. Cadence can vary by carrier and market. These differences matter even when two phones share the same processor. Samsung security scope.

Samsung’s four-OS-generation/five-year-security commitments cover the relevant S21/S22 models and S23 FE. From their launch years, approximately 2027 for S21 FE/S22 and 2028 for S23 FE are planning horizons—not official final-patch dates. Buying one used today does not restart that period. S21/S22 policy; S23 FE launch policy.

Keep a supported unit whose battery, storage and essential tasks remain satisfactory when its remaining horizon fits your plans. Upgrade for a longer ownership period or a demonstrated workload limitation. A historical game cap in an S22 review does not establish the cap in today’s game build, so check the current game before buying for high-FPS play.

2400/2400e: keep when the task still fits

S24/S24+ and S24 FE have seven-generation OS and seven-year security commitments, while S25 FE has its own seven-year commitment from its later launch. Approximate planning horizons are 2031 for S24/S24 FE and 2032 for S25 FE, subject to the published terms and regional timing. S24 policy; S24 FE, note 14; S25 FE, notes 20–21.

This reduces the pressure to replace a healthy recent device solely for a newer chip. If storage is repeatedly insufficient after managing data, buy for verified capacity. If a demanding game fails your preferred session, seek a test of that game on the candidate model. Do not transfer S24’s thermal result to S24+, or S24’s gaming results to S25 FE.

2500: folding design and model age change the verdict

Flip7 has a seven-generation/seven-year support commitment, and S26 FE has its own later commitment. Approximate horizons are 2032 and 2033, respectively; neither is an exact end date. The Flip7 policy is stated in its environmental report. Flip7 report, printed page 6, note 13; S26 FE launch, note 16.

Keep Flip7 when the folding design helps your routine and its battery and tasks meet your needs. Moving to a slab changes that workflow. Keep a satisfactory S26 FE rather than assuming Flip7’s heat or stress observations apply to it: our dataset contains no separate S26 FE measurement sample.

For that model’s camera, RAM, storage and ownership compromises, use our Galaxy S26 FE review. When comparing it with the regular S26, read the Galaxy S26 FE versus Galaxy S26 comparison. Those device verdicts do not turn Flip7 observations into S26 FE measurements.

This matrix is editorial advice, not a claim that every phone in a row has the stated problem. A 2600 S26/S26+ also carries a seven-generation/seven-year commitment, approximately to 2033 by launch cohort; its policy source does not confirm Exynos availability in every region. S26 policy, US announcement note 21.

Decision check: Support fits and tasks work → keep. A confirmed battery limitation → obtain a service assessment. Insufficient capacity or a persistent task failure → test an exact replacement. No matched upgrade-speed percentage is established.

Buying a used, FE or imported Galaxy

Record the full model code, processor variant, RAM/storage, software patch and seller’s warranty terms before comparing offers. Samsung’s Indonesian announcement distinguishes a Snapdragon S20 FE from the previously offered 990 model. That makes a generic “S20 FE” or “LTE” listing inadequate evidence of the processor. Samsung Indonesia.

For FE phones, verify the generation individually: S24 FE uses 2400e, S25 FE uses 2400 and the documented German S26 FE uses 2500. Their names do not define a uniform chip, memory configuration or cooling design. Sources: S24 FE, S25 FE, S26 FE.

Inspect the actual unit’s battery, storage, display and functions you rely on. With a foldable, check the screen and hinge and obtain applicable service/warranty terms. A seven-year software commitment does not establish seven years of mechanical durability. For imported devices, confirm local carrier compatibility and service eligibility rather than assuming regional equivalence. Our Samsung Galaxy buying guide weighs model, size and ownership cost; the long-term phone ownership guide helps assess support, repair access and battery replacement alongside performance.

This guide uses no purchase, trade-in or repair prices. For a live buying decision, date each local quote and match AP, capacity, condition, warranty and promotion terms. Compare net replacement cost with repair cost and the time you expect to keep either phone. Our Old Flagship vs New Mid-Range Phone guide develops that broader buying comparison.

Final verdict and FAQ

Exynos 990–2600 is a story of CPU, GPU, manufacturing and packaging changes, with evidence gaps that prevent a single controlled speedup. Older owners should weigh support and battery condition alongside performance. Recent owners should identify a task a replacement demonstrably improves. The best destination may be a well-chosen older supported Galaxy; the newest chip is only one part of the decision.

Read next: other processor families

Continue with the Apple A14 Bionic to A20 Pro generation guide or the Snapdragon flagship generation guide for their own device maps, evidence limits and upgrade questions. Their measurements are separate datasets: the links do not authorize a cross-brand ranking or a shared generation-speed percentage.