Samsung’s upcoming Galaxy S26 series is expected to disappoint consumers seeking significant upgrades in charging speeds, with reports suggesting the Galaxy S26 Pro and S26 Edge models may be limited to 25W wired charging.
According to prominent tech leaker Ice Universe, who posted on neo-Twitter, the charging speeds of these flagship devices may not see significant enhancements, mirroring the speeds of their S25 predecessors. Further complicating the outlook, SammyGuru has uncovered Chinese regulatory filings indicating that the Chinese variant of the Galaxy S26 supports up to 45W charging. However, if the global versions share the same hardware, a widespread upgrade in charging speed may not materialize.
The filings reveal that the Ultra variant appears capable of supporting up to 45W charging, based on the supported voltage and current combinations. This contrasts with the Pro and Edge models, which are only listed with support for 25W charging, reinforcing the possibility that these models will not benefit from faster charging technology. The potential lack of progress in charging speeds raises concerns for Samsung, particularly as competitors like the Pixel 10 series introduce features like 25W wireless Qi₂ charging, and Apple explores ultra-thin designs with its iPhone Air, prompting discussions about necessary trade-offs.
For a company often viewed as a leader in the Android ecosystem, maintaining the status quo in charging technology could impact Samsung’s reputation for innovation. While it’s not a step backward, as charging speeds aren’t being reduced, the absence of advancement could be perceived as stagnation. The focus on power, encompassing both battery capacity and charging speed, remains a critical factor for smartphone buyers. As such, the Galaxy S26 series will likely face scrutiny regarding its ability to keep pace with evolving consumer demands and technological advancements in the power domain.
Despite the current uncertainties, there is still hope that Samsung will unveil enhancements or features that will generate excitement around the battery performance of the entire Galaxy S26 lineup.
