The highly anticipated Samsung Galaxy S26 lineup is set to debut soon, with the Ultra model receiving a promising upgrade. However, recent information has cast doubt on the extent of this enhancement.
Initial reports suggested a jump from 45W to 60W charging for the Galaxy S26 Ultra, a development that seemed like a significant improvement. Yet, new data has surfaced that paints a different picture.
A 60W charger from Samsung is already available for purchase, but charging tests conducted by Ice Universe reveal that the S26 Ultra can reach 75% battery capacity in just 30 minutes. While this may sound impressive, the test results are not significantly better than its predecessor under normal conditions.
In real-world scenarios, the Galaxy S25 Ultra was able to achieve a 70% charge within the same timeframe, with some sources even reporting slightly better performance. The marginal increase in charging speed from 45W to 60W may not warrant much excitement.
It is worth noting that this enhanced charging capability is expected to be exclusive to the Galaxy S26 Ultra, while the standard S26 and S26+ models will likely stick to 25W and 45W charging speeds, respectively.
One variable that remains uncertain is the battery capacity of the S26 Ultra, with rumors suggesting a potential increase to 5200mAh. This slight bump in battery size could slightly enhance the charging performance, although some sources claim Samsung will maintain a 5000mAh battery capacity.
Samsung
Despite the underwhelming charging upgrade, there is still hope for significant improvements in another aspect of charging technology.
Reports suggest that wireless charging capabilities could see an increase from 15W to 25W, raising questions about the inclusion of Qi2 magnetic charging (similar to MagSafe) in the Galaxy S26 lineup. Samsung may need to integrate this feature into the phones to better compete with rivals like the Google Pixel 10 series, which already come equipped with Qi2 technology (referred to as Pixelsnap by Google).
All eyes are on Samsung as the Galaxy S26 range is expected to be unveiled on February 25, offering consumers a glimpse of the latest advancements in smartphone technology.