The Galaxy S26 Ultra, as well as its two other smaller siblings, is coming in a couple of months. Leaks and rumors about Samsung's meanest flagship have been circulating the internet for a while now, and at this point, we're getting corroborations on some of the expected upgrades.
A certification entry now confirms satellite connectivity for at least one version of the phone. And it also corroborates one of the hottest rumors about the phone.
Galaxy S26 Ultra spotted on the 3C certification website
The Galaxy S26 Ultra, sporting model number SM-9480, has just received clearance from the China Compulsory Certification (CCC). This clearance is for the local market, and the documents posted there reveal that the Chinese variant of Samsung's 2026 flagship has direct satellite connectivity.
The feature allows you to send messages or location to local emergency services in case of an emergency, even if you don't have a connection to a cellular network. The documents don't reveal if emergency calling is supported. The Galaxy S25 Ultra also supports emergency messages using satellite, so that just comes to confirm the feature exists, at least on the Chinese variant of the 2026 flagship.
What's even cooler, though, is that the 3C certification confirms that the Galaxy S26 Ultra supports up to 60W fast wired charging. The rumor about the upgrade in charging speeds has been around for a while now. Recently, Samsung itself somewhat confirmed it, but with this certification, the good news is getting even more certain.
The certification also shows the model is sporting a 5,000mAh battery. So, unfortunately, hopes for a bigger battery for the Galaxy S Ultra model are, well... crushed.
Which Galaxy S26 Ultra upgrade matters most to you?
Faster 60W charging
25%
Satellite connectivity
0%
The redesigned look
12.5%
Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chip
0%
Qi2 charging and magnetic accessories
0%
None of these — I want bigger changes
62.5%
Galaxy S26 Ultra's details are getting clearer as we speak
Meanwhile, the Galaxy S26 Ultra also recently received FCC (Federal Communications Commission) certification in the USA. That listing confirmed that the phone uses the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processor globally and in the U.S.
The Galaxy S26 and the Galaxy S26 Plus, however, could be powered by Samsung's Exynos 2600 in some markets, including, potentially, Samsung's home country, South Korea.
Recommended For You
Apart from that, the Galaxy S26 Ultra is expected to come with a redesign. The new look will unify the biggest Galaxy S model with its two smaller siblings, featuring the rounded corners and camera island.
The design change is controversial, with some Sammy fans believing the new design would make the Galaxy S26 Ultra look similar to the Galaxy A-series (Samsung's mid-range lineup), which would in turn make it look cheap. While other fans consider the design good, as it would make the Galaxy S phones more cohesive with each other.
The Galaxy S26 series is expected to come early next year, with a certain delay because of (reportedly) changes in Samsung's strategy. Expect the trio more or less around February. The phones are going to rival Apple's iPhone 17 lineup that got announced in September for the title of the best flagship phone.
Apart from the upgraded design, the Galaxy S26 Ultra is also said to come with real Qi2 charging support (similar to Apple's MagSafe) and an innovative privacy display.
Galaxy S26 Ultra: not much left to wait for Samsung's flagship
In general, I'm having mixed feelings about the Galaxy S26 Ultra. On the one hand, maybe we can demand more upgrades for Samsung's flagship. I, for one, would appreciate it if Samsung finally jumped on the bigger battery bandwagon.
However, Samsung is still giving us something to look forward to, including faster wired charging, Qi2, and its plethora of magnetic accessories, and the new look (like it or hate it). I'm curious to see if those upgrades would be enough for users to want the Galaxy S26 Ultra.
Izzy, a tech enthusiast and a key part of the PhoneArena team, specializes in delivering the latest mobile tech news and finding the best tech deals. Her interests extend to cybersecurity, phone design innovations, and camera capabilities. Outside her professional life, Izzy, a literature master's degree holder, enjoys reading, painting, and learning languages. She's also a personal growth advocate, believing in the power of experience and gratitude. Whether it's walking her Chihuahua or singing her heart out, Izzy embraces life with passion and curiosity.
A discussion is a place, where people can voice their opinion, no matter if it
is positive, neutral or negative. However, when posting, one must stay true to the topic, and not just share some
random thoughts, which are not directly related to the matter.
Things that are NOT allowed:
Off-topic talk - you must stick to the subject of discussion
Offensive, hate speech - if you want to say something, say it politely
Spam/Advertisements - these posts are deleted
Multiple accounts - one person can have only one account
Impersonations and offensive nicknames - these accounts get banned
To help keep our community safe and free from spam, we apply temporary limits to newly created accounts:
New accounts created within the last 24 hours may experience restrictions on how frequently they can
post or comment.
These limits are in place as a precaution and will automatically lift.
Moderation is done by humans. We try to be as objective as possible and moderate with zero bias. If you think a
post should be moderated - please, report it.
Have a question about the rules or why you have been moderated/limited/banned? Please,
contact us.
FCC OKs Cingular\'s purchase of AT&T Wireless
Things that are NOT allowed:
To help keep our community safe and free from spam, we apply temporary limits to newly created accounts: