Photo: File:Galaxy S26 Ultra - 3.jpg · Kyu3a · CC BY-SA 4.0 · via Wikimedia Commons

Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra

• Brand: Samsung
• Model: SM-S938 (Galaxy S26 Ultra)
• Android version: 16 (One UI 8)
• Kernel: 6.12.x
• SoC: Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 (SM8850)
• Bootloader: locked — One UI 8 removed the OEM-unlock path
• Root status: not rooted — no public method

Root methods (what works)

• None public. A locked-bootloader untrusted-app-to-root chain was demonstrated on this device by security researchers (Aug 2026) but has not been released.

Unlock notes

• One UI 8 removed OEM unlock entirely; bootloader unlock now requires a boot-chain bypass. Community work is ongoing.

Gotchas

• Bit-downgrade flashing is refused. Knox trips on any custom code.

Sources

• calif.io/research/oempocalypse (device table, Aug 2026)

Submitted by

Unbolt Inc. (community research)

• Photo credit: photo: File:Galaxy S26 Ultra - 3.jpg · Kyu3a · CC BY-SA 4.0 · via Wikimedia Commons