The upcoming information about the Samsung Galaxy S26 paints a picture of moderate evolution rather than revolution: a new Snapdragon chip, charging improvements and a battery without increased capacity are the central themes.
Summary
- Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 2 “for Galaxy” with up to 4.74 GHz in the prime core
- Battery remains at 5,000 mAh, but: faster charging than 45 W planned
- Possibility of using an Exynos 2600 in certain markets
- 200 MP main camera with more open aperture for more light capture
Samsung Galaxy S26 with Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 2
Samsung is said to be using the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 2 “for Galaxy” for the entire Galaxy S26 series, which is manufactured by TSMC and can reach a peak clock speed of up to 4.74 GHz – around 150 MHz more than previous “for Galaxy” chips used in the Samsung Galaxy S25 (€ 905.11 *).
Samsung could also equip selected devices with an Exynos 2600 to make itself less dependent on Qualcomm. Initial Geekbench entries show a performance below the Exynos 2500 – but this is probably due to the early development status. The new chip is said to be based on the deca-core design with GPU in cooperation with AMD (Xclipse 960).
Samsung Galaxy S26: Battery and charging performance
According to the rumors, the battery in the Galaxy S26 Ultra will continue to offer 5,000 mAh – identical to the previous generation. However, Samsung is expected to up the ante when it comes to charging by installing cells with higher cable charging capacities than before (45 W) – details on the speed are still missing, but a noticeable jump would be likely. The S26 Edge, on the other hand, could see a change: Despite an even thinner casing, Samsung is planning a larger battery than the 3,900 mAh model of the S25 Edge, with the help of new silicon-carbon battery technology.
Samsung Galaxy S26: Camera opening and image quality
Samsung’s proven 200 MP HP2 main sensor is to be used again in the S26 Ultra, but with a wider aperture (smaller f-number) compared to the previous f/1.7 solution of the S25 Ultra. This could enable more sensitive photos to be taken in low light without having to develop new sensors.
Technical features in detail
| Component | Rumor (Galaxy S26 series) |
| Processor | Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 2 “for Galaxy” with up to 4.74 GHz clock speed |
| Alternative chip | Exynos 2600 (Deca-Core + Xclipse 960 GPU) in selected markets |
| Battery (Ultra) | 5,000 mAh (identical to the S25 Ultra) |
| Charging power | Faster charging technology than previously 45 W |
| Battery (Edge) | Larger capacity despite thinner housing thanks to new cell technology |
| Camera (Ultra) | 200 MP main sensor with larger aperture for better light capture |
Conclusion
Current rumors paint the Samsung Galaxy S26 as a device with targeted fine-tuning: The new Snapdragon chip could provide noticeable performance gains, while the battery architecture and charging speed will be modernized – without optically thicker devices. The camera should effectively deliver better results thanks to more light, without new sensor sizes.
There has been one big surprise so far: No increase in capacity for the battery of the Ultra model, but at least technical progress for the Edge device. The source does not mention a price or market launch, but a presentation in January 2026 seems plausible – similar to previous S series.
