Galaxy S26 Ultra to Skip Samsung Foundry Snapdragon Chip, Per New Leak

Qualcomm Reportedly Cancels Custom Snapdragon Chip for Galaxy S26 Ultra

Latest rumor suggests Galaxy S26 series will use TSMC’s 3nm Snapdragon 8 Elite 2, with no Samsung Foundry exclusive chip in the pipeline.

No Custom Snapdragon for Galaxy S26 Ultra?

Despite earlier reports of a possible partnership between Samsung and Qualcomm to produce a custom Snapdragon 8 Elite 2 chip using Samsung Foundry’s 2nm process, a new rumor casts doubt on those plans.

• According to tipster Jukanlosreve, Qualcomm has reportedly removed the custom version of Snapdragon 8 Elite 2 (codenamed SM8850-S and SM8850-T) from its roadmap, leaving only the standard SM8850 version in production.

Qualcomm to Stick With TSMC’s 3nm Process

The revised plan means TSMC will be the sole manufacturer of Snapdragon 8 Elite 2 chips for the Galaxy S26 series, using its mature 3nm process.

• The previously rumored Samsung-made variant may have offered a cost advantage and advanced 2nm fabrication, but concerns over technology transfer and business strategy appear to have influenced Qualcomm’s decision.

Background: Risks and Business Strategy

Qualcomm’s reluctance may stem from:

• Technology transfer risks: Samsung’s System LSI (which designs Exynos chips) also works with Samsung Foundry, raising concerns about unintentional tech sharing.
• Business caution: Even with legal agreements, cross-division collaboration at Samsung Electronics could increase Qualcomm’s sensitivity around IP protection.

What This Means for Galaxy S26 Buyers

Galaxy S26 buyers should have no concerns about performance or efficiency, even if there is no custom Samsung Foundry chip.

• TSMC’s 3nm node is already proven, and the upcoming second-gen Oryon CPU is expected to offer significant upgrades in both power and battery life.