As anticipation builds for the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra, set to launch in January 2025, it's no surprise that the device will be powered by Qualcomm's latest flagship application processor (AP), the Snapdragon 8 Elite 2. This upgrade will be available in all markets, ensuring that users experience the cutting-edge technology that Qualcomm offers. Notably, the Galaxy S26 Ultra will utilize a modified version of this processor, specifically tailored for Samsung, labeled with the "extra for Galaxy" designation.
According to a machine-translated post from Digital Chat Station on Weibo, the Snapdragon 8 Elite 2 might be unveiled as early as September 2024, rather than the typical October timeframe when Qualcomm has launched its previous two flagship APs. This shift in schedule could be part of Qualcomm's strategy to avoid overshadowing its announcement by the impending release of MediaTek's Dimensity 9500 SoC, also anticipated in September. This competitive landscape highlights the intense rivalry between these two fabless chip designers, both of whom are expected to utilize TSMC's advanced 3nm process node for their 2025 flagship processors.
Another reason behind Qualcomm's potential September unveiling could be Samsung's plans to initiate pre-orders for its flagship devices earlier than usual. Should Samsung decide to reveal the Galaxy S26 series a month ahead of schedule, this could potentially take place in December 2024. This would align the pre-orders for both the Galaxy S25 and Galaxy S26 series within the same year, minimizing the gap between the launches of Samsung's flagship lines and the competing iPhone 17 series.
Further insights from Digital Chat Station indicate that flagship Android smartphones featuring the Snapdragon 8 Elite 2 are expected to hit the market in October 2024. This new processor is projected to incorporate upgraded Pegasus cores from Qualcomm, with maximum clock speeds reaching up to 5GHz. In addition, the chip will support the latest LPDDR6 RAM and feature the new Adreno 840 GPU.
Maintaining the familiar 2 + 6 core configuration seen in the original Snapdragon 8 Elite, the new iteration will consist of two Prime Cores operating at speeds up to 4.32GHz (with the Galaxy version likely to be overclocked) and six Performance Cores clocked at 3.53GHz. When compared to its predecessor, the Snapdragon 8 Elite 2 is expected to deliver a remarkable 25% increase in performance, while the Adreno 840 GPU is anticipated to yield a 30% performance boost. These promising improvements were also highlighted in a prior Weibo post from the same source approximately two weeks ago.
As we look forward to the release of the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra, it is clear that the integration of the Snapdragon 8 Elite 2 will set a new standard for performance in flagship smartphones, positioning Samsung to compete vigorously in the premium mobile market.
