Latest chip news (November 2026): who is where in the 2nm race

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Picture a race. Five big runners are on the track: Samsung, Apple, Google, MediaTek and Qualcomm. All of them want to touch one line, called "2nm". The race is still on. Someone has crossed, someone stopped just short, and someone is still tying their shoes. Here is the whole track at a glance, in plain words: who got where.

(If you are not sure what "2nm" means, read our nanometer story first. It explains that today "nm" is a new-generation name, not a real measurement.)

First, how to read the news

1. The race so far (in date order)

One more mix-up: some sites call Apple's A20 Pro the "first 2nm phone chip". But Samsung had already announced its 2nm chip in December 2025. The accurate line is that the A20 Pro is Apple's first 2nm chip.

2. What is special about each chip, in simple words

Apple A20 Pro: "fewer soldiers, bigger soldiers"

Apple showed this chip on 9 September 2026. It has 6 cores: 2 big "super cores" (Apple says 20% faster) and 4 power-saving cores. The GPU has 7 cores, which Apple says gives up to 40% faster graphics. The AI part (Neural Engine) now has 32 cores, and Apple says it has twice the compute. The "road" to memory is 50% wider. Apple also claims 40% better sustained performance than the A19 Pro.

Think of it this way: departments used to sit at far-apart desks. Apple has now put the chip and the memory face to face to cut the distance, so files travel faster. These are all Apple's own claims. Independent testing is still to come.

Dimensity 9600 Pro (MediaTek): "a three-floor building"

Its cores are split 2+3+3: two fastest, three middle and three power-saving. It has a new GPU (G2-Ultra NX) and comes with the new LPDDR6 memory and UFS 5.0 storage. MediaTek claims 17% better single-core and 15% better multi-core than last year's chip. Its cheaper sibling is the Dimensity 9600M.

Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 and Extreme Gen 6 (Qualcomm): "two brothers"

This time Qualcomm gave the chip in two forms: the higher Extreme and the standard Gen 6. Both have 2 "Prime" cores up to 5.0GHz and 6 "Performance" cores up to 4.0GHz, with UFS 5.0 and up to 24GB of RAM. The company claims (against last year's Gen 5):

Exynos 2600 (Samsung): "announced first"

10 cores: 1 big (3.8GHz), 3 medium (3.25GHz) and 6 power-saving (2.75GHz). Samsung claims 39% better CPU and 113% better AI than the Exynos 2500, and up to 50% better ray tracing (true-to-life light and shadow) in the GPU (Xclipse 960). It is reported for some Galaxy S26 series models and some markets. It is not certain that it reaches every market.

Tensor G6 (Google): "experience over the number"

It is on 3nm, yet Google claims 25% faster web browsing, 15% faster app launches and 50% more TPU compute for AI. An unofficial Geekbench listing (not confirmed by Google) showed scores well below the Galaxy S26 Ultra. Worth remembering: this chip is not only about winning benchmarks, it is also about running Google's AI features.

3. Which phones carry these chips

Which phone arrives in India, when and at what price is told by each company on its own site. That is the final word.

4. Still on the way

5. What it means for your pocket

• New chips appear first in expensive phones. What is in the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 today reaches cheaper phones in a few years.
• The older generation gets cheaper. When a new chip arrives, last year's flagship phones often drop in price. If you do not need the newest, that can be a good chance.
• Budget phones are fine where they are. As in our big-battery seven comparison, battery, updates and price matter more for daily use.
• When in India? Phones with a new flagship chip usually reach India within weeks to months. Check the maker's site for dates.

6. One lesson: see the whole picture, not the number

Google's chip is a good example. 2nm was the talk, but the chip came on 3nm, and the company stressed its AI features. So when you buy, look at three things together: the chip's tier, the phone's cooling and battery, and real reviews. Do not decide on "2nm" alone.

Quick Q and A

Should I buy a 2nm phone now? If your budget is big and you want the newest, there are options. If not, last generation's 3nm phones can be cheaper and are enough for daily work.

Whose was the first 2nm phone chip? By announcement, Samsung's Exynos 2600 (December 2025). Apple's A20 Pro is Apple's first 2nm chip.

Is the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 made by TSMC? I did not find the factory named in the company announcement. A January report said TSMC, which is not firm.

Figures come from public sources (announcements by Apple, Samsung and Google, MacRumors, 9to5Mac, 9to5Google, Tom's Guide, GSMArena and other tech news sites) as of 5 November 2026. News changes fast, so check the maker's site for real information before you buy.

Read next

• The nanometer story →
• The MediaTek and Dimensity story →
• The Snapdragon story →
• Who makes the chips →

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