Galaxy S26 Charging Speeds: Why Samsung Fans Are Disappointed

Samsung’s upcoming Galaxy S26 lineup is shaping up to be both exciting and frustrating, depending on what you value most in a flagship phone.

The latest certification leaks from China’s CQC have finally confirmed one of the rumors that fans were hoping would turn out to be false: the Galaxy S26 Pro and Galaxy S26 Edge will stick with 25W wired charging, while the premium Galaxy S26 Ultra will again cap out at 45W. That’s the exact same charging performance as the current Galaxy S25 family, and it means Samsung is once more refusing to join the speed race that many of its rivals have embraced.

This news may sting especially hard for loyal Samsung users because the smartphone world has moved far ahead in this area. Leading Chinese manufacturers like Xiaomi, iQOO, and Realme have been pushing the boundaries with 100W and even 150W fast charging, letting their phones jump from nearly empty to full in less than 20 minutes. Apple, historically as conservative as Samsung when it comes to charging speeds, even stepped up its game with the iPhone 17 series, now supporting up to 40W charging. By comparison, Samsung’s persistence with 25W and 45W looks increasingly outdated, particularly on devices that are marketed as cutting-edge flagships.

Charging speed isn’t the only area where fans feel let down. Samsung has also been criticized for relying on familiar camera hardware across multiple generations, recycling the same primary sensors with only minor tuning improvements. For many users, it feels like the South Korean giant is focusing on incremental refinements rather than bold innovation in hardware – a strategy that risks alienating power users who crave noticeable yearly upgrades.

Of course, there are still reasons to keep an eye on the Galaxy S26 range. Samsung could offset the lack of charging upgrades with other improvements, such as new AI-powered software features, refined design language, or enhanced display technology. The company has historically led the market in areas like screen quality, ecosystem reliability, and long-term software support. These strengths might soften the blow for users frustrated about the absence of charging progress. But make no mistake: when competitors are delivering lightning-fast charging as standard, Samsung’s reluctance to evolve in this department continues to be a sore point for fans.

Ultimately, the Galaxy S26 series seems likely to deliver another round of dependable premium devices, but the lingering question is whether dependability alone is enough to excite today’s demanding smartphone audience. For users who consider fast charging an essential convenience, this may be one of the most disappointing aspects of Samsung’s next flagship launch.