Samsung is set to enhance its next non-foldable flagship smartphone, the Galaxy S26 Ultra, with the highly anticipated Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset, at least in select regions. In other markets, the device may feature the Exynos 2600 processor. Recent leaks have provided intriguing insights into the specifications of the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, indicating that Qualcomm will release this chipset in two distinct versions. Notably, Samsung is expected to opt for the faster model for the Galaxy S26 Ultra.
A popular tipster on Weibo, known as Digital Chat Station, has disclosed key details about the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5. As per the leak, the standard version of this chipset will include two prime CPU cores operating at a frequency of 4.61GHz. In contrast, the enhanced version will feature two prime CPU cores clocked at a higher frequency of 4.74GHz. This suggests that Samsung is likely launching the Galaxy S26 Ultra with the faster version of this chipset, which could be marketed as the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy.
Both variants of Qualcomm's upcoming flagship chipset will incorporate six high-performance CPU cores, each running at a frequency of 3.63GHz, alongside the powerful Adreno 840 GPU operating at 1.2GHz. This combination is anticipated to deliver exceptional performance and graphics capabilities, enhancing the user experience on the Galaxy S26 Ultra.
While Samsung is set to utilize the faster version of the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, other notable brands including Honor, iQOO, OnePlus, Realme, and Xiaomi are expected to feature the standard version in their upcoming devices this year. However, these five Chinese manufacturers may follow suit next year by launching smartphones equipped with the faster variant of the SoC.
In addition to the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, Qualcomm is also reportedly working on the Snapdragon 8 Gen 5, hinting at a continuous evolution in mobile processing technology. As the smartphone market becomes increasingly competitive, the incorporation of advanced chipsets like these will play a pivotal role in defining flagship devices.
In summary, the upcoming Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra promises to be an exciting release, bolstered by the powerful Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset. With its impressive specifications and performance capabilities, it is poised to stand out in the crowded smartphone market.