The speculation stems from FCC certification documents recently shared by The Tech Outlook and cited by PhoneArena.

While Samsung previously teased its Exynos 2600 chip, raising concerns of a possible return to split-chip strategies, these new records appear to confirm that at least the Ultra variant of the Galaxy S26 line will ship with Qualcomm chips globally.

Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 confirmed for Ultra?

The documents list several model numbers believed to correspond to Galaxy S26 Ultra variants, all running Qualcomm’s top-tier processor.

Moreover, the listed devices support Smart Transmit Plus - a signal-boosting feature exclusive to Qualcomm’s X85 modem, which is only integrated in the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5.

This strongly indicates that the global Ultra model will not use Exynos.

In addition, the device is certified for the latest connectivity technologies, including tri-band WiFi 7, 5G, NFC, and UWB (Ultra Wideband).

No information is available yet for the base Galaxy S26 or S26+ models, leaving open the possibility that Exynos chips may still appear in lower-tier variants or specific regions.

One recent rumor claimed that Samsung may use Exynos exclusively in South Korea, but that too remains unconfirmed.

Samsung expected to launch S26 series in January 2026

Samsung is widely expected to unveil the Galaxy S26 lineup in January 2026, with retail sales beginning shortly afterward.

By then, the chip questions should be fully clarified.

Does the chip choice still matter in 2026?

Recent performance leaks suggest that the Exynos 2600 is closing the gap with Qualcomm in terms of power, efficiency, and AI processing.

If both platforms offer similar real-world experiences, the difference may no longer be as critical to users as it once was.

For years, Qualcomm chips have been seen as the “safer” choice, while Exynos has sometimes faced criticism over performance, optimization, and battery efficiency.

But if Exynos has truly improved, this long-standing divide could begin to fade.

Still, by opting for a single chip across all Ultra models, Samsung may be trying to avoid regional performance disparities - a pain point that’s drawn sharp criticism from both users and tech reviewers in the past.

Final word awaits official announcement

While the latest leaks heavily favor Snapdragon for the Ultra model, nothing is official until Samsung confirms the specifications.

If true, this global Qualcomm strategy could help the company deliver its most reliable flagship experience yet - one that doesn't vary based on where you live.

In the end, it’s not just about what chip a phone uses - but how it performs in real-world conditions.

For users, speed, battery life, stability, and AI capabilities will matter more than brand names.

And perhaps that’s exactly what Samsung is aiming for with the new Galaxy S era.

Hai Phong