Galaxy S26: Exynos 2600 gets new HPB technology to combat overheating
Samsung is working on a solution to one of the main complaints about its Exynos processors - overheating. The company is planning to integrate a new cooling system called the Heat Path Block (HPB) into the Exynos 2600, which could launch a new stage in the thermal stability of chips.
How the HPB works
The HPB is essentially a copper heat sink built directly on top of the processor (AP) and DRAM in a package-on-package (PoP) structure. Due to copper's ability to conduct heat efficiently, this design will absorb heat directly from the internal components - from the GPU, CPU and memory - providing better heat dissipation than the existing Exynos 2500 package shells.
This technology is borrowed from the desktop and server world. Samsung has been actively working on HPB in the fourth quarter of 2024 and has already moved to mass production as part of the Exynos 2600.
Why It Matters
Exynos processors have often been criticised for thermal throttling under load. HPB allows you to maintain consistent performance across a wide range of tasks - gaming, camera, multitasking - without sacrificing performance.
The Exynos 2600 is designed on a 2-nanometre GAA process, with a ten-core CPU architecture (1+3+6) and the new Xclipse 960 GPU (developed in collaboration with AMD). Even in the first 3DMark benchmarks, the Exynos 2600's graphics capabilities outperform the Snapdragon 8 Elite, a potential game changer for Qualcomm.
Samsung plans to complete testing of the Exynos 2600 with HPB by October 2025, after which it will begin mass production in time for the Galaxy S26 release in early 2026.
Predictions for the Galaxy S26
The Exynos 2600 version is expected to be available in the base S26 in global regions, except for the US and China, where Snapdragon chips may be used instead. The advanced Galaxy S26 Pro, S26 Edge and Ultra models have already been mentioned in One UI 8.5 leaks, confirming a new lineup without the S26 Plus model. The Ultra model is expected to receive the Snapdragon 8 Elite 2 globally, while the base versions with the Exynos 2600 will receive improved cooling with HPB technology. There was also information that Samsung may produce Snapdragon 8 Elite at its own factories, in which case these processors will be included in the company's flagships.
Conclusion.
Samsung is making a big step forward in cooling its flagship processors. HPB technology can make a real difference to the Exynos, providing less heat, less throttling, and more stable performance. If the leak is confirmed, the Galaxy S26 (with Exynos 2600) could restore users' confidence in Exynos models.