Samsung’s next flagship smartphone series, the Galaxy S26, will be powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processor, the companies announced. The chip will drive the S26 Ultra globally, and the S26+ and S26 models in select markets. This marks the third generation of Samsung smartphones to integrate artificial intelligence capabilities directly into the device.
Qualcomm states the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 integrates a third-generation Qualcomm Oryon CPU, the Adreno GPU, and the Hexagon NPU. This combination is designed to enhance on-device AI processing, graphics performance, and power efficiency. Both companies emphasized the platform’s optimization for Galaxy AI features, aiming to reduce reliance on cloud connectivity and improve responsiveness.
The Hexagon NPU will manage background tasks, provide contextual suggestions, and process advanced language and image data. Samsung’s Now Nudge and Now Brief features, which deliver personalized recommendations and summaries, will also operate using this system.
According to Samsung, the Galaxy S26 Ultra demonstrates performance improvements of up to 19% in CPU, 24% in GPU, and 39% in NPU compared to the previous generation. These gains are intended to support demanding workloads and always-on AI functions.
Samsung has also redesigned the S26 Ultra’s vapor chamber to improve thermal dissipation during intensive activities such as gaming, video recording, and multitasking.
The Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 incorporates Smart Transmit technology, designed to optimize upload power for 5G, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and satellite connections. The FastConnect 7900 system adds support for ultra-wideband (UWB) technology in the S26 Ultra and S26+ models. Qualcomm states these features aim to improve stability, coverage, and energy efficiency in data-intensive scenarios.
The fresh chip also enables enhanced computational photography and video capabilities, including support for Advanced Professional Video (APV). The Galaxy S26 Ultra is the first Galaxy device to support this codec, which provides efficient compression for high-quality video production workflows. Improvements in low-light capture, advanced video stabilization with Super Steady horizontal lock, and AI-assisted editing tools—allowing scene modification through text descriptions—are also included.
The S26 series features Super Fast Charging 3.0, capable of reaching 75% charge in 30 minutes.
On the security front, the S26 Ultra integrates a Privacy Screen directly into the display, limiting side visibility when activated. New AI-powered protection features include identification of unknown calls and alerts when applications attempt to access sensitive data, alongside a commitment to six years of security updates.
Pre-orders for the Galaxy S26 series are currently available in Mexico and will continue until March 17.
