Galaxy S26 Ultra’s Expanded Vapor Chamber Essential to Manage Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5’s Heat

The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra is generating considerable excitement, primarily due to its anticipated integration of Qualcomm’s robust Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processor. Unlike its predecessor, the Exynos 2600, this chip promises superior performance. However, there are concerns that this power may come at the cost of increased heat production, which could lead to overheating problems if not properly managed by Samsung.

Challenges of the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5’s Thermal Management

I’m concerned about the Galaxy S26 Series, even if it’s just a benchmark. I’ve read numerous posts and articles claiming that the phones overheat to the point where they shut down. This is not normal, even for a benchmark. I wouldn’t be surprised if a Lawsuit comes about… https://t.co/xpOalAGYXG

— Fadhel (@LAFadhel) November 16, 2025

The OnePlus 15 serves as an early example of a smartphone utilizing the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 and has already encountered thermal issues, particularly during strenuous tasks such as running 3DMark Wild Life Extreme. That said, its vapor chamber technology, which reportedly has double the heat dissipation capacity, generally assures reasonable heat management during everyday use.

At the core of the overheating issues is the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5’s architecture, which can draw a staggering 22 watts of power under heavy load. To put this in perspective, some Ultrabook ranges also consume similar amounts of power under demanding conditions.

For instance, gaming laptops equipped with Intel’s Core i9-14900HX processor may consume around 15 watts at idle, typically reaching temperatures of approximately 62 degrees Celsius—all while utilizing dedicated cooling systems spinning at 6, 000 RPM.

The Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5’s thermal efficiency must not only contend with its processing power but also involves understanding its core configuration:

Six Oryon Phoenix M performance cores operating at 3.63 GHz
Two Oryon Phoenix L prime cores functioning at 4.61 GHz

While critics have pointed to the absence of efficiency cores in the Snapdragon chipset as a significant drawback, it’s essential to note that the MediaTek Dimensity 9500 also lacks these cores without such criticisms being levied against it.

A closer examination reveals that the high clock speed of the performance cores may contribute significantly to the heat problems. A recently leaked benchmark indicates that the prime core of the Exynos 2600 is only marginally faster—by roughly 4.6 percent—than the Snapdragon’s performance cores, suggesting that clock speed alone cannot account for the Snapdragon’s excessive heat output.

Recent testing shows the Snapdragon’s board power can reach as high as 19.5 watts, contrasting sharply with the A19 Pro’s 12.1 watts in similar benchmarking scenarios. Given this context, the Galaxy S26 Ultra’s larger 1.2x vapor chamber may still struggle to mitigate thermal issues effectively, especially as global versions will utilize the Snapdragon chip without local SoC variations.

Exynos 2600: A Potential Alternative

If the Galaxy S26 Ultra faces significant overheating challenges, the stage could be set for Samsung’s Exynos 2600 to become a noteworthy alternative.

For context, the Exynos 2600 represents a substantial leap forward, moving away from Samsung’s traditional FinFET transistors in favor of innovative Gate-All-Around (GAA) transistors. These horizontal nanosheets are positioned vertically to significantly reduce current leakage, enhancing both power and efficiency.

The Exynos 2600 is manufactured using Samsung’s advanced 2nm process, promoting greater energy efficiency. According to the company, the Exynos 2600 offers:

A performance boost of up to 5 percent compared to the 3nm Exynos 2500.
An efficiency improvement of up to 8 percent over its predecessor.
A reduction in physical footprint by about 5 percent compared to the Exynos 2500.

Reports suggest that the Exynos 2600 has shown promising performance metrics, aided by features such as Heat Pass Block (HPB).Notably, Samsung’s manufacturing efficacy has improved from around 30 percent to approximately 60 percent regarding this chipset.

Moreover, a recent ZDNET article highlights that the Exynos 2600 has achieved stable yields coupled with remarkable advancements in efficiency and thermal management—up to 30 percent—alongside a notably enhanced NPU for better AI functionalities.

Additionally, it’s noteworthy that Samsung’s Mobile Division (MX) has reportedly secured a substantial price advantage in sourcing the Exynos 2600, allowing the base Galaxy S26 and S26+ to be priced $20–$30 less than devices sporting the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5.

This competitive pricing strategy could bolster the margins of Samsung’s mobile division. Should the Exynos 2600 prove capable of rivaling the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, particularly concerning thermal performance, it may incentivize Samsung to shift towards an in-house production model in the future.

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