What’s happened? Looks like the upcoming Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra could get a major quality-of-life upgrade, as folks over at Android Authority have now found references to “Super fast wireless charging.”
- The publication has spotted a new string in a One UI 8.5 build that includes the phrase “Super fast wireless charging.”
- So far, we’ve had two strings: “wireless charging” and “fast wireless charging.”
- While the former refers to a 5-10W charging speed, the latter appears when you connect a 15W wireless charger.
Nirave Gondhia / Digital Trends
Why is this important? Given that Samsung has been stuck with 15W wireless charging while the competition has moved to 50W proprietary wireless charging, an increase to 20W or 25W could be a significant upgrade for the Galaxy S26 Ultra.
- The Galaxy S25 series currently on sale is “Qi2-ready,” implying it doesn’t have the native magnetic profile found on the latest Pixel 10 series (Google calls it Pixelsnap charging) or on iPhones (in the form of MagSafe charging).
- Though it isn’t immediately clear, Samsung could finally adopt the Qi2 wireless charging standard, closing the gap with competitors in terms of charging convenience and flexibility.
Why should I care? If you’re thinking about upgrading to the Galaxy S26 Ultra, a faster wireless charging speed means less time topping up the device from a wireless charger on your desk or a portable wireless power bank.
- With support for improved wireless charging, Samsung will let buyers choose their favorite wireless accessory from magnetic snap-on chargers, stand chargers, or other Qi2 accessories (that utilize the device’s magnetic profile), making daily use more convenient.
- Along with faster wireless charging, the Galaxy S26 Ultra could also support 60W wired charging.
Nirave Gondhia / Digital Trends
OK, what’s next? The “Super fast wireless charging” mode comes from the courtesy of a firmware teardown; the feature isn’t official yet. Hence, there’s always a chance that Samsung might change something or drop the feature entirely before the final release.
- However, if everything goes well and the company decides to stick with it, the Galaxy S26 Ultra could spend less time plugged in or snapped onto chargers and more time helping owners do what they want.
- The device could likely adopt the Qi2.2 standard. The new report aligns with previous rumors, making it more credible.
