Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra Poised to Outperform iPhone 17 Pro with Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5

The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra is nearing its launch, scheduled for February 25th, and recent Geekbench 6 benchmark leaks indicate significant performance gains over its predecessor and Apple’s upcoming iPhone 17 Pro Max. The device, powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, is demonstrating a clear advantage in processing power.

Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5: A Performance Leap

The Galaxy S26 Ultra, equipped with the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, achieved a single-core score of 3,852 and a multi-core score of 11,738 in Geekbench 6 testing. This represents a 19.36% improvement over the Apple A19 Pro, expected to power the iPhone 17 Pro Max, in multi-core performance, while single-core scores remain comparable.

Overclocked Performance for Galaxy

The S26 Ultra’s higher benchmark scores, compared to other devices utilizing the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, are attributed to a faster “for Galaxy” variant of the System on Chip (SoC). This variant features Performance cores (P-cores) optimized for higher boost clocks. The Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 in the Galaxy S26 Ultra boasts a boost frequency of 4.74 GHz, a 3% increase over the official maximum boost clock of 4.60 GHz.

Significant Improvements Over Predecessor

The performance improvements are substantial when compared to last year’s Galaxy S25 Ultra. The S26 Ultra demonstrates up to 24% faster single-core scores and a 33% increase in multi-core performance.

Galaxy S26 Ultra: Beyond Processing Power

Alongside the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, the Galaxy S26 Ultra is expected to feature a 5,200 mAh battery and modest camera improvements. It will also introduce a new privacy screen designed to prevent visual eavesdropping. The launch event on February 25th will also unveil the new Galaxy Buds and Galaxy Buds Pro, positioning them as competitors to the iPhone 17 Pro and Pixel 10 Pro.

The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra is shaping up to be a formidable contender in the smartphone market, offering a compelling combination of processing power, battery life, and innovative features.