Galaxy S26, S26+ and S26 Ultra: Battery Sizes and Charging Speeds

With the Galaxy S26 series nearing official launch, battery life and charging performance are among the top considerations for prospective buyers. While Samsung hasn’t officially confirmed all details yet, leaks and certification listings offer a fairly clear preview of what’s coming. The picture that emerges is a mixed one, featuring some genuinely welcome upgrades alongside a few head-scratching decisions.

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Galaxy S26 series brings bigger batteries and faster charging, but not across the lineup

Like last year, Samsung is launching three flagship models in 2026: Galaxy S26, Galaxy S26+, and Galaxy S26 Ultra. They differ in many ways, including battery capacity and charging speed. Let us take a closer look at all three models:

• Galaxy S26: 4,300mAh battery, 25W wired charging, 20W wireless charging
• Galaxy S26+: 4,900mAh battery, 45W wired charging, 20W wireless charging
• Galaxy S26 Ultra: 5,000mAh or 5,200mAh battery, 60W wired charging, 25W wireless charging

Now, a 4,300mAh battery may seem small, but the Galaxy S26 is also a small phone. Its predecessor, the Galaxy S25, only packs a 4,000mAh battery, so Samsung has done well to include a bigger cell this time without adding the bulk. The wireless charging boost from 15W to 20W is also a welcome upgrade, more so if Samsung offers built-in Qi2 magnets for optimal alignment and accessories.

Unfortunately, the company isn’t offering faster wired charging on the Galaxy S26. It is still a paltry 25W, making it seven straight generations with no charging boost for the base model. 25W is genuinely too slow for a 2026 flagship, but Samsung doesn’t seem to realize that.

Coming to the Galaxy S26+, the battery capacity and wired charging remain unchanged from the 2025 model, but we won’t complain. A 4,900mAh battery with 45W wired charging isn’t bad, while wireless charging gets a small bump from 15W to 20W.

Finally, the Galaxy S26 Ultra tops the lineup with the biggest battery and fastest charging. Most reports point to a 5,000mAh pack, similar to recent Ultra models, though some leaks suggest a slight bump to 5,200mAh. The big upgrade comes in charging speeds, with 60W wired and 25W wireless charging pretty much confirmed. To recall, the S25 Ultra charges at up to 45W wired and 15W wireless.

These modest battery increases, combined with improved power efficiency and system optimizations, could help Samsung extract better real-world endurance from the Galaxy S26 lineup. That said, the decision to withhold 45W wired charging from the base model is hard to ignore. Is that a compromise you’re willing to accept? Let us know.