Samsung’s upcoming Galaxy S26 Ultra is sticking with its familiar 5,000mAh battery for yet another generation, according to the latest leaks.
Despite ongoing speculation about the shift to next-gen silicon-carbon batteries or even a massive 7,000mAh cell, the company seems content keeping things as they are-at least for now.
However, there’s finally a change users have been begging for: faster charging. Rumor has it the Galaxy S26 Ultra will support up to 60W wired charging, a welcome bump from the long-standing 45W ceiling. If true, this would allow for significantly quicker top-ups, likely halving the time needed to fully charge the device.
The battery capacity, meanwhile, hasn’t changed since the Galaxy S20 Ultra launched back in 2020. That’s a long time in smartphone years
. While Samsung touts AI efficiency improvements as part of its strategy, many are skeptical that software alone can make up for stagnant hardware. There’s growing frustration over the lack of real innovation in battery tech-especially when other manufacturers like OnePlus are pushing out devices with up to 8,000mAh batteries.
Some users have speculated that design constraints like the built-in S Pen might be preventing Samsung from increasing the battery size. Whether that’s true or not, Samsung’s continued reliance on aging battery specs is starting to show its age. Unless the company pulls a surprise move before launch, the Galaxy S26 Ultra may offer faster charging but still won’t last much longer than its predecessor on a single charge.
With competitors innovating rapidly, Samsung’s minor hardware tweaks and reliance on AI optimizations may not be enough to keep power users happy in 2026.