I Won't Get Excited About the Galaxy S26 — You Shouldn't Either

The Galaxy S26 Series and the Promise of Wireless Charging

Samsung has long been a leader in smartphone innovation, but with the Galaxy S25, it seemed like the company may have lost its edge when it came to wireless charging. The "Qi2 Ready" feature was essentially just a line of cases that made magnetic wireless charging slightly more efficient for the Galaxy S25 series. However, it didn't offer true Qi2 compatibility, which left many users disappointed.

In contrast, the Pixel 10 series launched with full Qi2 compatibility, leading many to believe that the Galaxy S26 would follow suit. Leakers have since claimed that the Galaxy S26 Ultra will support 25W Qi2.2 wireless charging, which aligns with expectations. But there's more to the story.

What Samsung Promises for the Galaxy S26

Wired and Wireless Charging Improvements

After the underwhelming Galaxy S25, Samsung appears to be making significant improvements to the Galaxy S26 series. While these upgrades haven’t been officially confirmed, they give us a good idea of what to expect from the Galaxy S26’s charging capabilities.

The Galaxy S26 Ultra is reportedly set to support 25W Qi2.2 wireless charging. The rest of the series will also have Qi2.2 support, but their charging speeds are expected to be slower than the S26 Ultra. This is likely due to the larger size of the S26 Ultra, which allows for faster heat dissipation. This same logic explains why the Google Pixel 10 Pro XL supports the fastest charging speeds in its series.

Regarding wired charging, the Galaxy S26 Ultra is rumored to support up to 60W wired charging. However, the actual speed will depend on the battery level, as variable charging speeds are common. Phones typically charge more slowly as the battery approaches full capacity to avoid unnecessary wear and tear.

Reality Is Harsh on Charging Speeds

I've had significant issues with the wireless charging speed of my Pixel 10 Pro since I got it. No matter how high the battery level is, it refuses to draw more than 4W over Qi or Qi2 chargers. I'm not alone—numerous users have reported inconsistent wireless charging on the Pixel 10 series.

This is why I’m hesitant to get excited about the charging improvements on the Galaxy S26 series. I assume the speeds will be faster, but I doubt everyone will experience the same results. The most consistent way to achieve high wireless charging speeds on the Pixel 10 is to use it with Google’s official Qi2 charger. However, these accessories aren’t cheap, and it’s no surprise that people are frustrated when their existing, otherwise functional, chargers don’t work.

For example, my Qi2 Peak Design charger is sturdy enough to last me years, if not decades. But what’s the point if I need to replace it to take advantage of faster wireless charging? I’m worried that the Galaxy S26 series might face similar issues. Teething problems are expected with new features, but having to replace perfectly good wireless chargers is a frustrating experience.

If Samsung drops the ball again with the Galaxy S26’s wireless charging capabilities, I’m unsure there will be much to be excited about.

What Else Is There to Look Forward To?

Other rumors about the Galaxy S26 series aren’t as positive. Despite the growing demands for memory and storage on modern smartphones, thanks to AI features, Samsung is reportedly not increasing the RAM of any Galaxy S26 devices. Similarly, we may not see storage upgrades on the Galaxy S26 and S26+.

This isn’t the only hardware element rumored not to receive an update. The Galaxy S26 Ultra will supposedly use the same rear camera sensors as those on the S25 Ultra. The telephoto shooter will be upgraded, but since it’s the same size (10MP), you shouldn’t expect noticeable improvements in your photos.

However, all these features need real-world testing before we can say whether the Galaxy S26 will be worth buying. But if smartphone prices are increasing, it may be one to skip.

The Question of Value

The Galaxy S26 series may struggle to offer good value for money. All the features I’ve discussed in this article are still rumors, so we’ll need to wait until we have the device in our hands before we can declare our verdict. However, if we see a significant jump in smartphone prices, it may be tough to recommend any device in the Galaxy S26 series, regardless of how good its hardware is.