Samsung’s Galaxy S26 Ultra is shaping up to be one of the most anticipated flagships of early 2026, and one of the biggest talking points right now is its charging technology. For years, Samsung’s top-tier Ultra models have been stuck at 45W wired charging, a speed that once felt impressive but now looks dated against aggressive competitors from China. Rumors suggest that the S26 Ultra could finally break that ceiling with support for up to 60W charging – a seemingly modest bump that may actually matter more than it looks at first glance.
It’s worth remembering that nothing about the S26 lineup is official yet. Samsung keeps details tightly under wraps until launch, and we’re still several months away from the expected unveiling of the S26 Ultra, S26 Pro, and S26 Edge. 
Even so, information from trusted industry insiders often points in the right direction, and chatter around charging speed upgrades has been particularly persistent. Samsung’s recent flagships – the Galaxy S22 Ultra, S23 Ultra, S24 Ultra, and this year’s S25 Ultra – all offered the same 45W cap, delivering full charges in around 70 minutes. Back in 2022, that was competitive. In 2025, it’s seen as lagging behind the likes of OnePlus, Xiaomi, and Motorola, all of which have moved well past 100W charging.
Earlier this year, some leaks suggested Samsung would finally push to 60W, only for new regulatory filings to cast doubt and claim no change was coming. The rumor cycle has gone back and forth ever since. Now, well-known leaker @UniverseIce has doubled down, stating that Samsung is indeed set to upgrade the Ultra to 60W. While not confirmed, this report has reignited excitement among fans who’ve long wanted Samsung to take charging more seriously.
What does a move from 45W to 60W actually mean in real-world use? In absolute terms, not a revolution. Phones like the OnePlus 13 already hit 100W and fully recharge in just 43 minutes. Motorola’s Edge 50 Pro goes even further at 125W. If OnePlus follows through with its rumored 120W OnePlus 15, Samsung will still trail by a wide margin. But context is important: Samsung has a reputation for conservative hardware design choices, prioritizing battery longevity and safety over raw charging speed. A 60W system could realistically bring charge times down from 69 minutes to comfortably under an hour for a 5,000mAh cell, which the S26 Ultra is expected to retain. That improvement, though not industry-leading, would finally move Samsung past years of stagnation.
There’s also the possibility of a ripple effect across the rest of the lineup. If the Ultra does indeed step up to 60W, analysts believe the S26 Pro and S26 Edge could see their own charging upgraded from the modest 25W of the S25 generation to 45W. That would be a major and much-needed upgrade for Samsung’s more affordable flagships, giving them stronger selling points against rivals in the same price range.
Of course, charging isn’t the only story. The S26 Ultra is rumored to slim down in thickness, potentially dipping below 8mm while still housing that large battery. Display quality is said to improve further, with whispers of a new “Privacy Display” technology that reduces side-angle visibility to protect user content. Camera refinements are expected too, though not revolutionary – think incremental enhancements that polish an already highly capable system rather than reinvent it. All told, the phone may look very similar to the S25 Ultra, but Samsung appears focused on subtle refinements instead of radical redesigns.
One shadow hanging over the S26 Ultra is processor speculation. A rumor suggesting Samsung might switch back to Exynos chips in some markets has caused waves, as Qualcomm’s Snapdragon processors have generally been seen as superior for performance and efficiency. If Samsung truly relies heavily on Exynos again, it could overshadow otherwise positive changes like faster charging or display tweaks. That said, many industry watchers doubt Samsung will abandon Qualcomm entirely given the strong partnership and the global consistency customers demand.
So, should you be excited about the Galaxy S26 Ultra? Perhaps cautiously optimistic is the best stance. The 60W charging upgrade, if real, won’t suddenly catapult Samsung ahead of its rivals in charging wars, but it does show movement after years of frustratingly little progress. Combined with a thinner design, upgraded display, and camera polish, the S26 Ultra could feel like a well-rounded and carefully refined successor. It won’t reinvent the wheel, but for Samsung loyalists, it may offer just enough to make the upgrade feel worthwhile.
In the end, the S26 Ultra will be judged not just by its charging speeds, but by the sum of its parts – design, performance, software, and ecosystem integration. If Samsung nails the details, a modest bump like going from 45W to 60W could end up symbolizing something bigger: a company willing to once again push forward, even if cautiously, to keep its crown as the world’s number one smartphone maker.
1 comment
hope they dont put exynos again, that would kill it