The Galaxy S26 Ultra uses the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy, a Samsung-exclusive chip co-developed with Qualcomm.
Processor Specifications
| Component | Details | |-----------|---------| | CPU | Octa-core (2x 4.74 GHz + 6x 3.62 GHz) | | GPU | Adreno 840 | | NPU | +39% vs S25 Ultra | | Process | 3nm |
Performance vs S25 Ultra
| Metric | Improvement | |--------|-------------| | CPU | +19% | | GPU | +24% | | NPU | +39% | | Efficiency | +35% |
vs iPhone 17 Pro Max
| Category | Winner | |----------|--------| | Multi-core | S26 Ultra | | Single-core | iPhone 17 Pro Max | | Gaming | Tie | | AI tasks | Competitive |
Both phones use 3nm chips. S26 Ultra has 12-16GB RAM vs iPhone's 12GB.
Thermal Performance
| Device | Temp Under Load | |--------|-----------------| | S26 Ultra | ~27°C | | iPhone 17 Pro Max | ~27°C | | Pixel 10 Pro XL | ~32°C |
No throttling during extended gaming sessions.
Real-World Performance
- Apps: Instant launch
- Gaming: Max settings, smooth framerates
- Multitasking: Seamless with 12-16GB RAM
- AI features: Fast on-device processing
Samsung Exclusive
The "for Galaxy" chip variant is exclusive to Samsung:
- Custom One UI optimization
- Enhanced NPU features
- Dedicated Samsung software integration
Bottom line: The S26 Ultra trades benchmark wins with the iPhone 17 Pro Max. Both are the fastest phones available.
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How we researched this
Where this comes from: this answer draws on the product's published specifications and the reviews ShopSavvy collected for it, alongside prices from ShopSavvy's price data.
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More Answers
If you're still curious about the , here are some other answers you might find interesting:
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- What are the Galaxy AI features on the S26 Ultra?
The Galaxy S26 Ultra includes comprehensive Galaxy AI features powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5's enhanced NPU. | Feature | What It Does |...
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- Is the Galaxy S26 Ultra waterproof? What is the IP rating?
The Galaxy S26 Ultra has an IP68 rating, providing excellent protection against dust and water. | Component | Rating | Meaning |...
- What colors does the Galaxy S26 Ultra come in?
The Galaxy S26 Ultra is available in six colors, with four standard options and two Samsung exclusives. | Color | Description | |-------|-------------| | Black...
- How does the Galaxy S26 Ultra camera compare to the iPhone 17 Pro Max?
Both the Galaxy S26 Ultra and iPhone 17 Pro Max are excellent cameras with different strengths. | Feature | S26 Ultra | iPhone 17 Pro Max |...
- What storage and RAM options are available for the Galaxy S26 Ultra?
The Galaxy S26 Ultra is available in three configurations with storage-dependent RAM. | Storage | RAM | Price | |---------|-----|-------| | 256GB | 12GB |...
- Is the Galaxy S26 Ultra worth upgrading to from the S25 Ultra?
For most S25 Ultra owners, the upgrade is not essential. The improvements are meaningful but incremental. | Feature | S26 Ultra | S25 Ultra |...
- How many years of software updates will the Galaxy S26 Ultra get?
The Galaxy S26 Ultra is guaranteed 7 years of major Android upgrades and security updates, with support extending until approximately 2033. | Update Type |...
