Galaxy S26 Series Revives a Clever Galaxy Watch Trick [U: No, It Doesn’t]

Update 03/05: After additional testing, we found this doesn’t actually work. When the watch is powered off, it briefly shows a charging animation when placed on the back of a Galaxy S26 series phone, which made it seem like Wireless PowerShare was working at first.

However, once the watch is powered on, it shows a message saying “This charger isn’t compatible with your watch.” So the feature hasn’t been restored for these Galaxy Watch models. We regret the error.

The latest Galaxy S26 series isn’t just about the AI features that Samsung talked about at length during Unpacked. It also quietly fixes something smartwatch fans have been frustrated about since 2024.

Wireless PowerShare is back for newer Galaxy Watches!

With recent Galaxy Watch models such as the Galaxy Watch Ultra, Watch 7, and Watch 8 series, one odd omission annoyed users. These smartwatches couldn’t reliably charge via Wireless PowerShare from Galaxy smartphones.

Why? Samsung redesigned the health sensors’ layout and charging coil on the Galaxy Watch Ultra and Watch 7, placing it too far from the contact surface. As a result, owners had to use the dedicated wireless charger from the box. They couldn’t top up their watch on the go using their phone’s battery.

According to a clip from YouTuber Mike O’Brien, the Galaxy S26 phones now allow users a Galaxy Watch Ultra, Watch 7, or Watch 8 series on the back of the phone and charge it wirelessly via Wireless PowerShare, just like charging earbuds or another phone. 

We can confirm this works. SammyGuru’s Jeff Springer tested it with a Galaxy S26 Ultra and a Galaxy Watch 8 Classic, and it charges as expected. The Galaxy S26 series can once again power Galaxy Watch 7 and newer models via Wireless PowerShare. This brings back functionality that worked with the Galaxy Watch 6 series and older models.

How does Wireless PowerShare work on the Galaxy S26 series?

Samsung’s Wireless PowerShare feature allows the Galaxy S26 series to act as a wireless charger for other Qi wireless charging compatible devices, such as earbuds, smartphones, and now supported Galaxy Watch models. You can enable the feature in Settings > Battery > Wireless power sharing.

However, based on the official specifications so far, Wireless PowerShare is still limited to 5W. That’s fine for occasional top-ups but not ideal for fully charging a device quickly. Still, it’s extremely useful in a pinch.

By restoring this capability, Samsung brings back a small but meaningful convenience. You can once again top up your watch while you’re out and about, which is especially useful for travelers who don’t want to carry extra chargers.

That said, users should check compatibility themselves if they have a Galaxy Watch 7, Galaxy Watch Ultra, or Galaxy Watch 8 series once the Galaxy S26 series starts shipping. Are you happy that Samsung finally fixed this inconvenience?

Now, Samsung, it’s time to bring back the Bluetooth S Pen features too.