Owners of the Galaxy S26 Ultra may experience varying performance levels due to the foundry responsible for producing the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 2 application processor. This new flagship processor from Qualcomm will power the high-end Galaxy S26 Ultra, expected to be released in late January or early February next year. A recent rumor suggests that Qualcomm might employ “dual-sourcing,” meaning some processors will be manufactured by TSMC and others by Samsung Foundry. This could lead to differences in speed and battery life, despite using the same processor. TSMC is known for making top-tier processors, while Samsung’s use of a 2nm Gate-All-Around process node could offer technological advantages over TSMC’s 3nm version. The smaller transistors in Samsung’s process allow for higher transistor density, which can enhance performance and reduce power consumption. The Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 2’s pricing is expected to remain competitive, partly due to Qualcomm’s 3nm process and Samsung’s involvement. Looking ahead, Qualcomm may introduce two versions of the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 3, with TSMC’s version being more expensive and advanced. Meanwhile, Samsung’s version would cater to non-premium models with lower performance specifications. As developments unfold, updates on Qualcomm’s dual-sourcing strategy will be provided.
Why might your Galaxy S26 Ultra perform differently than mine?
