The next Galaxy flagship is already taking shape—and if this leak is anything to go by, the Galaxy S26 Ultra will pack serious power under the hood.
A newly discovered firmware file on Samsung’s own servers appears to confirm that the Galaxy S26 Ultra will ship with Qualcomm’s next-gen Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 “Elite 2” processor and debut with One UI 8.5 based on Android 16. It’s a clear sign that Samsung is not just iterating—it’s aiming to leap ahead.
Leaked Firmware Confirms What’s Coming
The leak was first spotted in firmware files hosted on Samsung’s server, bearing the identifier PMK8850—widely believed to be Qualcomm’s upcoming flagship chip. This matches recent leaks suggesting the Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 will carry the “Elite 2” branding, a follow-up to the “Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy” or Elite variant found in the Galaxy S25 Ultra.
Interestingly, the firmware also confirms Samsung is deep into development on One UI 8.5, its next software skin based on Android 16. This lines up with an earlier report from Ice Universe, hinting at a new update strategy where foldables get early access to major One UI features, followed by refined versions for the Galaxy S series.
What About the S26+ and Base Model?
While the Ultra model seems destined for Qualcomm’s best silicon, not all S26 phones will follow suit. According to industry chatter, the Galaxy S26 and S26+ will likely feature Samsung’s in-house Exynos 2600 chip. This SoC is expected to offer competitive CPU and GPU performance—and more importantly, recent reports suggest Samsung may have solved its thermal issues, promising better sustained performance this time around.
This continued split between Exynos and Snapdragon chips has been a longstanding source of frustration for Galaxy fans in certain regions, but Samsung appears more confident than ever in its silicon. Whether that confidence is justified remains to be seen—but all signs point to a more efficient and cooler-running Exynos than in years past.
Why This Leak Matters
This isn’t just about new hardware—it’s a preview of Samsung’s evolving strategy. The integration of Snapdragon’s upcoming Elite 2 chipset and Android 16-based One UI 8.5 signals a next-generation experience in both performance and software refinement.
Qualcomm’s Gen 4 Elite series is expected to debut with custom Oryon CPU cores, ditching Arm’s designs in favor of higher single-core performance and improved AI processing. Combined with Samsung’s likely upgrades to the S26 Ultra’s cooling system and camera stack, this could make it one of the most powerful Android phones of 2025.
Looking Ahead: August Unpacked or Early 2025?
While the leak doesn’t confirm a launch date, Samsung typically unveils its Galaxy S series in January or February. If past release patterns hold, expect an early 2025 launch window for the Galaxy S26 Ultra and its siblings. That means this firmware is probably an early development build, giving us a rare behind-the-scenes look at what’s cooking inside Samsung HQ.
With Snapdragon’s next-gen chips and Samsung’s tighter software iteration cycle, the S26 Ultra could offer a major generational leap—especially for those skipping the S
