Samsung has once more been proven incorrect as its false claims of the 2nm GAA process have been highlighted in a new smartphone battery drain test, where the Exynos 2600 version of the Galaxy S26 is pitted against the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 variant. While both handsets are exactly the same in all areas, it is the runtime that records a massive difference of 2 hours and 38 minutes, according to one YouTuber’s testing.
Strenuous tasks performed on the Exynos 2600, such as video encoding, result in overheating and faster battery drain
The two Galaxy S26 models were tested as fairly as possible by the YouTube channel Android Addicts, with Wi-Fi disabled and 5G enabled on the Exynos 2600 and Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5. For the majority of readers who may not be informed, the increased internal temperatures of a smartphone can also lead to faster battery drain, and during the video encoding test, the Exynos 2600-powered Galaxy S26 began overheating, consequently reducing its runtime.
The problem appears to arise with the 10-core CPU cluster belonging to the Exynos 2600, which, when stressed, reaches higher power limits that cannot be sustained by the Galaxy S26’s compact enclosure. In previous synthetic compute tests, Samsung’s first 2nm GAA SoC is highly inefficient in apps like Geekbench 6, where the Exynos 2600 reached a peak power draw of 30W, making it 40 percent higher than the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5.
Even though these power spikes last for a split second, continuously forcing the Exynos 2600 to work even during regular use can adversely impact the Galaxy S26’s battery life. At the end of the test, Android Addicts revealed that the device featuring the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 lasted for an impressive 9 hours and 26 minutes, whereas the Exynos 2600 variant powered off after 6 hours and 48 minutes, making it a 28 percent difference in battery life.
This level of disparity should be thoroughly investigated by Samsung, because it can mean one of two possibilities; either the 2nm GAA process isn’t as efficient as the Korean giant led the masses to believe, or perhaps the company should water down the CPU core count and focus more on reducing that power draw. Perhaps the Exynos 2700 could follow this approach.
News Source: Android Addicts
About the author: Omar Sohail is a reporter and analyst for Wccftech's mobile section, specializing in the technology and business of the mobile industry. His expertise lies in the intricate hardware supply chain, covering developments in semiconductor manufacturing, chip lithography, and camera sensor technology.
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