Samsung fans, get ready—your next flagship could finally close the charging speed gap that’s long separated Samsung from its Chinese rivals. According to leaks uncovered from the upcoming One UI 8.5 software, the Galaxy S26 Ultra is rumored to support a whopping 60W wired Super Fast Charging 3.0 and an upgraded 25W wireless charging speed.
This is a big leap from Samsung’s current max of 45W wired charging and 15W wireless, which have remained stagnant for years. For comparison, many Chinese brands have been pushing past these numbers for quite some time, making this upgrade a long-awaited catch-up move for Samsung—especially in the U.S. market.
Why the delay? Well, the shadow of the infamous Galaxy Note 7 battery fiasco still lingers in Samsung’s cautious approach to charging tech. But with Apple and Google ramping up competition, Samsung seems ready to shake off the past and push innovation forward. Charging speeds like these could finally make fast charging a standard expectation for flagship phones priced north of $800.
On the wireless front, the rumored 25W speed might be tied to Qi2 charging support and magnetic alignment tech on the back of the phone—something Samsung fans have been eagerly awaiting. The Pixel 10 Pro and iPhones have already made magnetic wireless charging popular, and Samsung risks falling behind if it doesn’t join the trend.
One thing to note: these charging speed upgrades will likely be exclusive to the Ultra model, following Samsung’s tradition. The rest of the S26 lineup may stick to slower charging speeds, but hopefully, Qi2 support will be more widespread across the series.
Of course, you’ll probably need to buy a new charger to unlock these speeds since Samsung stopped including chargers in the box a while ago. Expect Samsung to offer discounted bundles or preorder deals that include the new 60W charger, which might also be compatible with laptops for added convenience.
Mark your calendars for CES early next year, where Samsung is expected to drop some teasers about the Galaxy S26 lineup. While the phone itself likely won’t be unveiled there, it’s the perfect stage for Samsung to build hype around these exciting charging improvements.
In other news, Samsung’s upcoming One UI 8.5 will be based on Android 16 QPR2, marking a new era of faster and more frequent Android updates. Plus, Google is making moves to bring Android to PCs, signaling an exciting future for the ecosystem.
All eyes are on Samsung as it gears up to shake the smartphone world with the Galaxy S26. Faster charging, smarter software updates, and magnetic wireless tech could finally give Samsung the edge it needs to reclaim its innovation crown.