Samsung Begins Exynos 2700 Production, but Galaxy S27 Ultra Placement Remains Unsettled

Samsung has initiated mass production of its next-generation Exynos 2700 processor, according to South Korean outlet The Elec. While fabrication is underway for the upcoming Galaxy S27 generation, internal negotiations between corporate divisions leave the processor selection for the top-tier Galaxy S27 Ultra undecided.

A 2nm Process and an Expanded Lineup

The Exynos 2700 is manufactured on Samsung's second-generation 2nm Gate-All-Around (GAA) SF2P node. Compared to the first-generation SF2 process used for the Exynos 2600, SF2P reportedly delivers a 12% boost in performance, a 25% cut in power consumption, and an 8% reduction in chip area. The chip is also expected to incorporate Arm C2 CPU cores, upgrading from the C1 cores featured in the prior generation.

Samsung has raised its Exynos 2700 production target by more than 10% compared to the Exynos 2600. The expanded volume is reportedly intended to supply an additional variant in the lineup: the Galaxy S27 Pro, which would sit alongside the standard Galaxy S27, Galaxy S27 Plus, and Galaxy S27 Ultra.

The Ultra Selection Dilemma

Allocation for the premier Galaxy S27 Ultra remains open. Samsung System LSI, which designs the Exynos line, is lobbying Samsung MX (Mobile eXperience) to feature the Exynos 2700 in the Ultra model to boost division earnings and validate the chip's flagship capability. However, Samsung MX has not yet committed, reportedly evaluating thermal dissipation, benchmark results, Qualcomm component pricing, and foundry capacity before deciding.

Early internal Geekbench tests indicate the Exynos 2700 outpaced Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6 by 9.5% in multi-core performance, while Qualcomm retained the lead in single-core workloads.

Regional Splits and Release Timing

Distribution plans across the lineup remain subject to conflicting reports. GSMArena reports that the Galaxy S27, S27 Plus, and S27 Pro will run on the Exynos 2700 in South Korea and Europe, while US and Chinese models will use Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6. Conversely, reporting from SamMobile suggests Samsung may deploy the Exynos 2700 in the base, Plus, and Pro models across all global markets.

With chip mass production starting in October 2026, the standard three-to-four-month manufacturing lead time points toward a Galaxy S27 series launch in February or March 2027.