Samsung is gearing up to launch the Galaxy S26 Ultra, and it could come with a revolutionary 5G modem that leaves the competition—including Apple—playing catch-up. Here’s what we know so far.
Next-Gen 5G: Faster, More Efficient
The Galaxy S26 Ultra is expected to feature Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 chipset, which is rumored to bring a massive boost in 5G speeds, efficiency, and reliability. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 will reportedly use advanced 3-nanometer technology, making it not just faster but also more power-efficient than previous generations【9】.
This chipset could push clock speeds up to 5GHz, a huge leap from the current 3.4GHz limit on the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3. For users, this means blazing-fast downloads, seamless streaming, and ultra-low latency for gaming and video calls【9】.
Samsung vs. Apple: The 5G War Continues
Apple, on the other hand, is still relying on Qualcomm modems but has been working on its own in-house 5G chip for years. However, delays have prevented Apple from integrating its own 5G modem into iPhones. If Samsung pulls this off with the Galaxy S26 Ultra, it could set a new standard for connectivity and mobile performance, while Apple may need to catch up in future iPhone models【8】.
AI and Battery Life Enhancements
Apart from the 5G modem, AI-powered features are also expected to be a major highlight of the Galaxy S26 Ultra. Real-time translations, smarter voice assistants, and AI-driven photography tools are rumored to be in development【7】. Additionally, Samsung is reportedly improving battery life with faster charging and a larger battery capacity, something users have been asking for【8】.
What This Means for You
If you love speed, power, and cutting-edge connectivity, the Galaxy S26 Ultra could be the smartphone to beat in 2026. Whether Apple will have an answer with the iPhone 17 lineup remains to be seen, but Samsung looks set to dominate the next phase of the 5G race.
