Galaxy S26 Ultra Specs Revealed: Snapdragon Chipset Confirmed for All Regions

New certification documents confirm the Galaxy S26 Ultra specs include Snapdragon power worldwide no regional chip lottery this time.

Samsung’s Galaxy S26 lineup is expected to arrive sometime in early 2026, though the exact date is still anyone’s guess. Recent rumors suggested Samsung might be making last-minute changes to its plans (or backing out of those changes), which could push the launch back. The bigger question mark? Which processor would actually power these phones?

For months, leakers have been going back and forth about whether Samsung would use its own Exynos chips in certain markets while reserving Snapdragon processors for others—a strategy that’s frustrated customers in the past. The launch timing might still be up in the air, but fresh certification paperwork appears to settle the chipset debate once and for all.

FCC Documents Reveal Galaxy S26 Ultra Specs

The Galaxy S26 Ultra recently passed through the FCC (Federal Communications Commission) for certification ahead of its official debut. According to documents spotted by The Tech Outlook, several variants showed up carrying model numbers SM-S948B, SM-S948B/DS, SM-S948U, and SM-S948U1. The “U” designation typically indicates US models, while “B” refers to international versions sold everywhere else.

Quick note: The FCC paperwork doesn’t explicitly label this device as the Galaxy S26 Ultra, but we’re connecting the dots here. Last year’s Galaxy S25 Ultra used the model number SM-S938B/U, making this a pretty safe bet.

Here’s the interesting part every single variant lists the same chipset regardless of region. The documents identify it as SM8850, which is the internal code for Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5. This confirms that both US buyers and international customers will get the same Snapdragon-powered experience. No more chip envy based on your zip code.

Galaxy S26 Ultra Specs: Not Your Standard Snapdragon

There’s a twist, though. This probably isn’t just the regular Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 you’ll find in other flagship phones. Samsung has a history of working with Qualcomm to create special “For Galaxy” editions with higher clock speeds and tweaked performance profiles. Expect this trend to continue with the S26 Ultra.

The FCC filing also mentions support for Qualcomm’s Smart Transmit Plus technology, which boosts uplink speeds. This feature only works with Qualcomm’s X85 modem the exact modem that comes with the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5. It’s additional confirmation that Samsung is going all-in on Qualcomm silicon this year.

Confirmed Connectivity Specifications

Beyond the processor, the certification reveals key Galaxy S26 Ultra specs for connectivity:

Triple-band Wi-Fi 7 – Next-generation wireless speeds with support for the 2.4GHz, 5GHz, and 6GHz bands for maximum performance and reduced congestion.

5G connectivity – Full support for the latest 5G networks with Qualcomm’s X85 modem handling both sub-6GHz and mmWave bands.

NFC – Near-field communication for contactless payments and quick device pairing.

Ultra-wideband (UWB) – Precise location tracking technology for features like Samsung’s SmartTag trackers and digital car keys.

Why This Matters

For Samsung fans who’ve watched the company split its chip strategy between regions in previous years, these Galaxy S26 Ultra specs are welcome news. Everyone gets the same premium hardware experience, regardless of where they live. The Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 should deliver serious performance gains, especially if Samsung adds its custom tuning on top.

While we’re still waiting on an official announcement with pricing and availability details, at least one major question has been answered. The Galaxy S26 Ultra will bring flagship-level performance to every market—no compromises, no regional variations.