The upcoming Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra is rumored to feature a custom chip that sets it apart from its competitors. According to reports from South Korea’s Business Post, Samsung may be utilizing a specially enhanced version of the Snapdragon 8 Elite 2 chip for the Galaxy S26 Ultra, as well as potentially for the US models of the Samsung Galaxy S26.
In the past, Snapdragon for Galaxy chips have typically been slightly overclocked versions of the standard chip, manufactured by Taiwan chip maker TSMC. However, with the Snapdragon 8 Elite 2, Qualcomm is said to be exploring a new approach by collaborating with Samsung to produce the Snapdragon 8 Elite 2 For Galaxy chip.
Samsung Foundry has previously faced challenges in keeping up with TSMC, leading to its Exynos chips lagging behind Snapdragon counterparts. Nevertheless, Samsung’s chip division has made strides in developing its 2nm process, which is more advanced and efficient than the 3nm process used by TSMC for the off-the-shelf Snapdragon 8 Elite 2. This could potentially result in Samsung’s version of the Snapdragon 8 Elite 2 offering even higher performance levels compared to its competitors.
On the other hand, reports suggest that Samsung may be reverting to its custom Exynos chips, specifically the Exynos 2600, for the global model of the Samsung Galaxy S26. This decision comes after the underperformance of the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge. Historically, Samsung’s custom Exynos chips have led to performance discrepancies between global models and those sold in the US and China, which typically receive Snapdragon variants.
With the Exynos 2600 likely to be produced using Samsung’s new 2nm process, there is hope that Samsung will be able to bridge the performance gap between its global and regional models for the upcoming flagship phones in 2026.
Overall, the integration of a custom chip in the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra could give Samsung a competitive edge in the smartphone market, potentially offering superior performance and efficiency compared to its rivals.
