Galaxy S26 Ultra battery rumors suggest a familiar capacity, faster charging speeds

Samsung might have a foldable launch on the horizon, but that doesn’t mean a new leak can’t have us looking forward to what’s next for its non-folding flagships.

Notable leaker Ice Universe shared some details about the Galaxy S26 Ultra’s battery and charging situation, and it’s a mixed bag. On one hand, it seems like Samsung is once again keeping its flagship’s battery capacity at just 5,000mAh, even as we see various rivals pushing well past this mark. While some Galaxy fans have called on the company to swap to silicon-carbon batteries — like those seen in the OnePlus 13 or Nothing Phone (3) — the technology comes with some downsides of its own. Clearly, even a decade later, Samsung is still somewhat haunted by the Note 7 debacle.

But again, it’s not all bad news. Ice Universe says the S26 Ultra will sport a slimmer frame, following a trend practically every Samsung phone seems to be chasing. At 8.2mm, the Galaxy S25 Ultra’s squared-off frame feels pretty bulky. Dropping to a 7.x-mm frame — as Ice Universe says in a reply — could go a long way in making the company’s top-tier flagship feel a little more in line with something like the S25 Edge. The leaker also says Samsung’s worked to improve both the battery’s safety and lifespan, with the former likely owing to our other shred of good news.

Before you repeat the usual chorus about Samsung refusing to improve any power element in its smartphones, it sounds like charging speeds are finally getting some attention. Although Ice Universe keeps it vague, the Galaxy S26 Ultra should arrive with something speedier than its usual 45W charging rate. There’s no exact number — so again, we could be talking about a relatively minor change — but I’d love to see Samsung improve to match, bare minimum, the 67W speeds that often show up on Motorola’s premium smartphones.

I’m also curious to see how improved charging speeds collide with that enhanced lifespan. A common complaint among users who opt for a slower charging experience is potential harm to the battery, with the possibility that your phone’s maximum charge capacity could shrink faster than if you relied on a slower charger. If these rumors are true, it seems clear Samsung is hoping to avoid as many battery risks as possible — again, likely as an echo of its experience nine years ago.

Samsung has reservations open now for the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Flip 7, with a $50 credit when you pre-order and up to $1,150+ in savings. Reservations are free, and there’s no obligation to actually buy a device if you sign up, but there’s no other time you can get that $50 credit (which can go towards Galaxy Watch 8), 3x reward points, and other perks.

• Reserve Galaxy Z Fold 7 or Flip 7 now on Samsung.com

More on Samsung:

• Report: Galaxy S26 to use Samsung-made Snapdragon 8 Elite sequel, not TSMC version
• Rumor: Galaxy S26 Ultra may change S Pen tech to make way for Qi2 magnets
• Samsung teases ‘tri-fold’ device through One UI 8, and it doesn’t unfold like you expect [Gallery]

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