At first glance, the rumored Galaxy S26 Ultra upgrade sounds like one of those tiny, forgettable spec bumps: faster RAM. Considering the S25 Ultra already feels lightning-fast, the idea of shaving milliseconds off app launches seems pointless. 
But there’s more to the story – and it could make a surprisingly big difference in real life.
According to leaks, Samsung is moving from LPDDR5X RAM built on Micron’s 1β (1-beta) process to new 1γ (1-gamma) modules. While the raw speed bump is small – from 9.6 Gbps to 10.7 Gbps – the big news is that these chips are physically thinner, dropping to just 0.61mm. In smartphone engineering, every fraction of a millimeter is precious. That extra space could mean a bigger vapor chamber for cooling, improved camera modules… or the upgrade everyone’s been craving: a larger battery.
Samsung’s Ultra models have been stuck at 5,000 mAh for years, while some Chinese flagships boast 6,000 mAh or more. If thinner RAM frees up internal room, Samsung could finally push beyond that limit. And the benefits wouldn’t stop there – 1γ RAM is also said to be about 20% more energy efficient. Combined with a bigger battery, that could mean noticeably longer time between charges, perhaps even pushing the Ultra into true multi-day battery life.
Of course, most users won’t feel the speed difference from this RAM in day-to-day tasks – social media scrolling, messaging, streaming – all of which already run flawlessly. But efficiency? Endurance? Those change how you live with your phone. Going to bed without charging and waking up to a still-healthy battery percentage feels far more impactful than a slightly snappier animation.
Samsung may not be delivering the flashy hardware leaps of the past, but if this behind-the-scenes change results in more screen-on time and fewer charging breaks, the S26 Ultra could quietly become one of the most user-friendly Ultra models in years. It’s the kind of upgrade nobody asked for, yet might end up loving.