The first Samsung smartphone that I had that ran on the Android platform was the Samsung Galaxy Note 10+. I still think that might have been the best flagship phone Samsung has ever made, but I'm certainly biased. Being the first device from the company to support 45W fast charging made it a notable entry in the OEM's portfolio.
However, that was all the way back in 2019. While some competitors have moved on to 100W charging, Samsung remains stuck on 45W charging, and even then, only for a select few of its phones—even the super-expensive Galaxy Z foldables are excluded. However, according to a reliable source, the 45W barrier will be surpassed next year.
The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra Could Be the Company's Fastest Charging Device Since 2019
My current phone and the previous one were both Samsung flagships, so I definitely have nothing against the company. However, I can criticize when it is needed, and Samsung's charging speeds are a good place to start doing that. The company is meant to be an industry leader, and sticking to a maximum charging speed of 45W across its portfolio since 2019 isn't what I'd consider to be the moves of a trendsetter.
| Wired Charging Speed | Release Year | |
| Galaxy S25 Ultra | 45W | 2025 |
| Galaxy S25 Edge | 25W | 2025 |
| Galaxy Z Fold 7 | 25W | 2025 |
| Galaxy S22+ | 45W | 2022 |
| Galaxy Note 10+ | 45W | 2019 |
However, it looks like 2026 might be the year that the smartphone gods smile down on all of us. According to Ice Universe, one of the most reliable tipsters on the internet (especially when it comes to Samsung), has just leaked something major. According to him, the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra, expected in the first month of 2026, will come with charging faster than 45W.
Not only does the leaker mention that it'll be the phone with the fastest charging in Samsung's history, but he says that the change is “100% confirmed”. That's a lot of certainty, and from someone who is already so reliable, you might only need to take a grain of salt with this. My guess is 65W. Anything higher would be too much of a jump. It'd also be nice to see the S25 and S25 Edge climb up to 45W.
The Battery Size Is Likely to Stay at the 5,000mAh Mark for the S26 Ultra
My guess is at 65W, and not just because I think anything more would be too large an increase, but because I think charging speeds tend to be decided in proportion to the battery capacity.
For the S26 Ultra, the 5,000mAh battery (dating back to the S20 Ultra) will still be the choice. 80W charging would be nice to see, but 65W charging would likely be cheaper for Samsung and would still provide enough of a notable upgrade to charging speeds.
In other rumors about the S26 Ultra, we expect the following:
- Very thin bezels (as small as 1.15mm)
- Thinner design
- 200MP Sony sensor
- Brighter, more efficient display
