The Comissão Federal of Comunicações of the Estados Unidos recently approved four variants of the Galaxy S26 The certification took place this Monday, December 8, 2025, in Washington, D.C., confirming essential technical details of the Samsung’s top-of-the-line smartphone. The process aims to ensure compliance with American radio frequency standards, equivalent to Anatel in Brasil, and signals progress towards the scheduled launch in the first quarter of 2026.
The highlight is the processor Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, identified by the code SM8850, present in all global versions. Essa choice eliminates rumors about the use of the Exynos 2600 in international markets and reinforces the Samsung’s unified strategy for optimized performance.
High performance platform
The Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 integrates support for the Qualcomm’s X85 modem, with Smart Transmit Plus technology for uplink enhancement. Essa configuration allows gains of up to 30% in energy efficiency compared to its predecessor, according to preliminary benchmark tests.
The platform also enables advanced artificial intelligence features such as enhanced neural processing for multitasking and real-time image editing. Samsung has optimized the chip as “For Galaxy”, an overclocked version exclusive to its devices.
Additionally, the set includes 16 GB of LPDDR5X RAM, ensuring fluidity in demanding applications. Storage ranges from 256 GB to 1 TB in UFS 4.1, prioritizing high read and write speeds.
Expanded Connectivity
The certification lists tri-band Wi-Fi 7 support, covering 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz and 6 GHz frequencies for speeds greater than 5 Gbps in ideal environments. Essa technology reduces latency in streaming and online gaming.
Bluetooth 6.0 brings improvements in range and power consumption, facilitating connections with accessories such as headphones and smartwatches. The presence of UWB allows for accurate tracking of items via the network of Samsung devices.
Other options include NFC for contactless transactions via Samsung Pay and 5G support with global bands. The network covers 2G, 3G and 4G as a fallback, ensuring broad compatibility.
- IP68 certification against dust and water;
- Ultrasonic fingerprint reader under the screen;
- Stereo speakers with Dolby Atmos.
Design and expected dimensions
The Galaxy S26 Ultra maintains an approximate thickness of 7.65 mm, with thinner edges for improved ergonomics. The design adopts an oval camera module in the upper left corner, housing four sensors without floating rings.
Materials include grade 5 titanium frame and Gorilla Armor 2 glass on the front and back, which are scratch-resistant. Cores available encompasses black, grey, silver and custom tones via Galaxy AI.
The 6.9-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X screen occupies 93% of the front, with an adaptive refresh rate of 1 to 120 Hz. Brilho maximum reaches 3,000 nits for outdoor visibility.
Estimated weight is 219 grams, balanced by the internal distribution of components. Testes of durability confirms resistance to drops of up to 1.5 meters on hard surfaces.
Camera configuration
The rear set starts with a 200 MP ISOCELL HP2 main sensor, equipped with OIS optical stabilization for sharp night photos. The 50MP ultrawide lens captures 120-degree angles with low distortion.
Two telephotos complement: 12 MP with 3x optical zoom and 50 MP with 5x, both with OIS for 8K videos. The 12 MP front supports 4K recording at 60 fps.
Processing via Snapdragon improves scene detection and noise reduction. Recursos as Super Steady and Director’s View expand creative options.
Updates include an 85-degree field of view at the front, expanding group selfies. Integração with One UI enables AI-based automatic edits.
Advances in battery and charging
Capacity rises to 5,200 mAh, optimized by the efficient chipset for up to 30 hours of mixed use. Carregamento wired reaches 60 W, recharging from 0 to 100% in 45 minutes with compatible adapter.
Wireless advances to 25W, compatible with Qi2 pads. 15W reverse Recarga supports accessory charging like Galaxy Buds. Certificação safety guard prevents overheating.
Adaptive Economy Mode adjusts consumption based on usage patterns. Testes indicate 80% charge retention after 1,500 cycles.
Software and updates
The device runs Android 16 under One UI 8.5, with a fluid and customizable interface. Recursos for privacy include Flex Magic Pixel for dynamic screen masking.
Samsung promises seven years of OS and security updates, extending support until 2033. Integração with Galaxy AI focuses on text summaries and real-time translations.
KNOX Vault protects biometric data and passwords. Modo desktop via DeX improves productivity on external monitors.
Market expectations
Analysts predict sales of over 40 million units in the first year, driven by the global chipset. Competidores like OnePlus 15 and iQOO 15 adopt the same Snapdragon, intensifying the dispute.
Starting prices start at US$1,299 for 256 GB, with regional variations. Lançamento occurs in January 2026, during Galaxy Unpacked into San Francisco.
The strategy focuses on an integrated ecosystem, with full compatibility with Samsung wearables and tablets.
