Samsung is set to unveil the next-generation Galaxy S26 series in early 2026, with expectations of delivering a minimum of 25% faster 5G speeds compared to its predecessor.

The South Korean tech giant is expected to introduce the Galaxy S26 series, comprising the Galaxy S26, Galaxy S26+, and Galaxy S26 Ultra, at the Galaxy Unpacked event, which is scheduled to take place between January and February 2026.

There is a strong likelihood that the company will equip the upcoming series with the Snapdragon 8 Elite 2 chipset, although this has not been officially confirmed. If this turns out to be the case, it would be a significant development in terms of delivering exceptionally fast performance.

In related news, Qualcomm has recently announced a new modem, the X85, which is expected to be used in the Snapdragon 8 Elite 2. This hints at the potential 5G performance of the forthcoming Galaxy S26 series.

Qualcomm has unveiled the X85 5G Modem-RF, which offers download speeds of up to 12.5Gbps and upload speeds of up to 3.7Gbps on the 5G network. The newly introduced modem features an AI-Powered Data Traffic Engine, which, according to Qualcomm, will deliver “AI-enhanced, dynamic gaming traffic prioritization,” “AI-enhanced OTT calling for clearer voice and video calls,” and “Smooth Wi-Fi Cellular transfer.”

In comparison, the Galaxy S25’s Snapdragon 8 Elite has an X80 5G Modem-RF that offers download speeds of 10Gbps and upload speeds of 3.5Gbps.

If expectations are met, the Galaxy S26 will offer at least 25% faster download speeds and 5.8% faster upload speeds on the 5G network compared to the newly launched Galaxy S25 devices.

However, it is still too early to make any definitive predictions about the Galaxy S26 lineup, given that it is still in the early development phase and has nearly a year to launch.

Related