Galaxy S26 Ultra Firmware Confirms Snapdragon 8 Elite 2 Chipset

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Samsung’s Galaxy S26 Ultra will feature Qualcomm’s next-gen Snapdragon flagship, a newly obtained firmware file for the device confirms. The chipset appears to be the Snapdragon 8 Elite 2, though it remains unclear whether this will be the TSMC-built 3nm version or a possible Samsung-made 2nm variant. Meanwhile, questions remain whether the 2nm Exynos 2600 will be ready in time to power the Galaxy S26 series.

Galaxy S26 Ultra spotted with the Snapdragon 8 Elite 2

A recent firmware leak revealed that Samsung will ship the Galaxy S26 Ultra with Android 16-based One UI 8.5. The same firmware file also contains information about its chipset. A reference to PMK8850 strongly suggests the inclusion of Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite 2. For context, the Snapdragon 8 Elite used in the Galaxy S25 Ultra carried the internal model number SM8750, and the “PMK” label is in line with Qualcomm’s naming conventions for future silicon.

This confirms what many expected: the Galaxy S26 Ultra will once again be powered by the latest and greatest from Qualcomm, ensuring top-tier performance, AI enhancements, and battery optimization. However, there’s some uncertainty over the manufacturer of this chipset. While TSMC has been producing Snapdragon flagships for the past few years, rumors suggest Samsung may make the Snapdragon 8 Elite 2 for the Galaxy S26 series using its in-house foundry.

A TSMC version fabricated on a 3nm process will still exist for other brands. The Samsung version, if it materializes, may use a 2nm process. Samsung is also working on its 2nm Exynos 2600 processor, with plans to ship it with the other two Galaxy S26 models, at least in some regions. However, based on reports, the company still has a lot of things to get right before the chip enters mass production. Expect more details to surface in the coming months as Samsung prepares for an early 2026 launch.

Written by

Sumit Adhikari

Sumit, a life-long Samsung user, is passionate about technology and has been professionally writing on tech since 2017. He’s a mathematics graduate by education and enjoys teaching basic mathematics tricks to school kids in his spare time. Sumit believes in artificial intelligence and dreams of a fully open, intelligent and connected world.

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