Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra Benchmark: Snapdragon 8 Elite Beats Apple by 6%

A leaked benchmark indicates that the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra’s Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 outperforms the Apple A19 Pro by 6%.

Reports indicate that the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra achieved scores exceeding 3,600 in single-core and 10,600 in multi-core Geekbench tests.

The listing further suggests that its Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chip may be overclocked.

As the launch of the Samsung Galaxy S26 series approaches, leaks have become increasingly frequent and reliable, especially regarding the S26 Ultra.

Details about its design, display, color options, and camera have already emerged, and its Geekbench scores have now been reported.

The latest Geekbench results show that the Galaxy S26 Ultra’s Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 CPU achieved scores of 3,601 in single-core and 10,686 in multi-core tests.

The chip is reported to have a base frequency of 3.63 GHz, a maximum core speed of 4.74 GHz on two cores, and is paired with 12 GB of VRAM.

Benchmark testing demonstrates that the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 in the Galaxy S26 Ultra is approximately 16% faster in single-core and 7.5% faster in multi-core Geekbench 6 tests compared to the previous Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy.

Although the Apple A19 Pro is about 7% faster in single-core tests, the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 surpasses it by 6% in multi-core Therefore, the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 in the Galaxy S26 Ultra demonstrates significant performance improvements over the previous generation and is expected to compete effectively with the A19 Pro in the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max.

The Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 seems to be overclocked in the Galaxy S26 Ultra.

The latest Geekbench listing indicates that Samsung is once again utilizing a slightly overclocked Snapdragon chip in the Galaxy S26 Ultra.

While the official maximum boost clock for the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 is 4.60 GHz, the S26 Ultra’s chip reportedly reaches 4.74 GHz, representing an increase of approximately 3%.

Samsung has employed this strategy since the introduction of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy with the S23 series.

The Galaxy S26 series is also expected to feature a specialized “For Galaxy” version of the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5.

Until recently, it was widely assumed that all Galaxy S26 models would include built-in magnets, similar to those found in competing devices from Apple and Google.

According to the Qi2 standard, magnets assist in aligning the charging coils.

However, recent information suggests that, at least for the Galaxy S26 Ultra, previous assumptions regarding built-in magnets may have been incorrect.

The presence of magnetic charging pucks and other magnetic accessories led to the expectation that Samsung would incorporate magnets within the Galaxy S26 Ultra.

However, according to independent sources cited by UniverseIce, who has a reliable track record regarding Samsung products, the Galaxy S26 Ultra “ultimately does not include built-in magnets inside the device.” Magnetic enclosures remain necessary for magnetic functionality.

Although no reason is given, it is suspected that the S Pen digitizer is to blame for the lack of magnets.

Since Samsung doesn’t react to requests about unannounced products, we are unable to verify this, but you can be sure that when we do get the opportunity, it will be the first thing we ask company authorities.

Whatever the reason, this is disappointing. Without built-in magnets, we can’t use some of our favorite accessories. Apple and Google phones use magnets to improve wireless charging speed and efficiency, so this is a letdown for us.

Pre-orders for the Galaxy S26 Ultra may be less attractive compared to previous releases.

In past years, Samsung’s pre-order periods for flagship Galaxy S phones have been popular, but that might not be true for the Galaxy S26 Ultra and its siblings.

Pre-ordering typically begins shortly after the official announcement of a new phone. Customers often act quickly to secure a unit and receive it prior to the general public release.

Customers, however, could wait for greater availability; therefore, merely acquiring the goods early was insufficient. Therefore, Samsung began introducing additional buyer incentives for consumers who pre-ordered the next flagship.

Initially, the company offered early purchase discounts. Last year, instead of a price reduction, Samsung provided double the storage at the same price as the base model.

For example, Galaxy S25 Ultra customers received the 512GB version for the price of the 256GB model. This pre-order strategy has been well-received by consumers.

Speculation indicates that the Galaxy S26 series may not include any pre-order incentives. The rationale for this potential change has not yet been confirmed.

Memory suppliers are presenting challenges for the electronics industry. Due to high demand from artificial intelligence companies, competition for high-bandwidth memory (HBM) resources is increasing.

Companies like Samsung changed their memory production lines to HBM to accommodate these needs.

 Consequently, there is a serious shortage of CPUs and DRAM for smartphones and other electronics. Even if it adds to the problem, Samsung cannot remedy it; in 2026, its smartphones are expected to become more expensive.

As a consequence, the company may need to offer each model at its original price, potentially including discounts or free accessories, which could hinder production targets.

If this scenario occurs, pre-orders for the Galaxy S26, S26+, and S26 Ultra will provide fewer benefits than previous models.

The lineup is scheduled to debut on February 25, 2026, pending official confirmation.

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