Galaxy S26 may offer 25% faster 5G speed than Galaxy S25

Samsung’s next lineup of flagship smartphones, the Galaxy S26 series, is rumoured to use a Qualcomm processor. It will most likely be the successor to the Snapdragon 8 Elite, and it may arrive as the Snapdragon 8 Elite 2.

Although details about the SoC are scarce at the moment, Qualcomm has unveiled a new modem, the X85, which we may see in the Snapdragon 8 Elite 2. It gives us an idea about the 5G performance of the Galaxy S26.

Qualcomm has launched the X85 5G Modem-RF. On the 5G network, it offers up to 12.5Gbps download and 3.7Gbps upload speeds. In comparison, the X80 5G Modem-RF that we see in the Snapdragon 8 Elite and Galaxy S25 series offers 10Gbps download and 3.5Gbps upload speeds.

It means that the Galaxy S26 will offer 25% faster download and 5.8% faster upload speeds on the 5G network compared to the Galaxy S25. In addition to that, the modem has AI-Powered Data Traffic Engine. Qualcomm says this it offers, “AI-enhanced, dynamic gaming traffic prioritization,” “AI-enhanced OTT calling for clearer voice and video calls,” and “Smooth Wi-Fi Cellular transfer.”

With the Galaxy S25 series is still new in the market, the development of the Galaxy S26 lineup might be in early stages. While rumours suggest that it could feature a Qualcomm chip, it is also possible that Samsung may power it with the Exynos 2600, at least in some regions. In that case, it may come with the Exynos Modem 5400, which has 14.79Gbps download speed,  or a newer version of it.