The Galaxy S26 Ultra is one of the most anticipated phones of 2026. Early leaks pointed to a better performance upgrade: 65W fast charging. However, new internal test data suggests this speed bump may not happen. The problem isn’t Samsung‘s hardware capabilities, though. The obstacle that would prevent 65W charging support in the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra series is the engine running the show: the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 flagship chip.
Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 heat may block Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra 65W charging
According to a @SPYGO19726 report, the highly customized Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 is proving to be a thermal bottleneck. The chip’s heat profile allegedly prevents Samsung from safely and stably implementing 65W charging during internal stress tests. This thermal struggle may be a key reason behind Samsung’s recurring debate over which chips to use. If you’re not aware, some regions will receive the Snapdragon version, and others will get the in-house Exynos 2600.
Meanwhile, the internal Exynos tests reportedly do not share this same limitation. This suggests that Samsung’s own chip, long considered the weaker sibling, might finally close the gap.
Samsung remains extremely cautious about pushing battery and charging limits. The company has been reluctant to make major improvements in these areas since the Galaxy Note 7 disaster. That event still dictates strict “NOTE-7 Compliance Protocols” today. This means safety takes absolute precedence over any headline charging speed. When a powerful chip like the Snapdragon 8 Elite fails to maintain stable thermals at a higher charging rate, Samsung is highly likely to default to the safer, slower option.
Samsung is finalizing the Galaxy S26 Ultra ahead of its estimated February 2026 launch. They seem to be facing a classic specs dilemma: risk instability for a key feature (65W charging) or stick to safer, slower speeds. Be that as it may, you should lower your hopes a little regarding a fast-charging improvement for the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra.
The post Galaxy S26 Ultra’s 65W Charging May Be at Risk Due to Snapdragon Thermals appeared first on Android Headlines.
