Rumor: Samsung won’t increase the battery in the Galaxy S26 Ultra
By ForGeeks Insider leaks indicate minor changes to the battery and fast charging specs of the Galaxy S26 Ultra, which could cause disappointment among users.
Despite the lack of official information from Samsung, numerous predictions and leaks regarding the upcoming flagship have already surfaced online. Analysts and industry whistleblowers, based on inside sources and previous experience, suggest that the Galaxy S26 Ultra may turn out to be only a minor upgrade over its predecessor – especially in terms of battery life and charging speed.
Galaxy S26 Ultra may get a 5,000 mAh battery again
If Samsung does indeed keep the Galaxy S26 Ultra’s battery capacity at 5,000 mAh – as it did in the S25 Ultra, S24 Ultra, S23 Ultra, and all the way up to the S20 Ultra – it would mark the seventh consecutive model without improvements in this key parameter. That decision looks particularly odd against the backdrop of competitors including OnePlus, Xiaomi, Honor, Oppo, Vivo and Motorola, all of which regularly increase battery capacity and speed up charging.
The S25 Ultra Ultra is the seventh model in a row with no improvements to its battery and faster charging.
With the OnePlus 13T packing a 6,260 mAh battery with a compact 6.32-inch screen, and the Galaxy S26 Ultra at around 6.9 inches only being able to offer 5,000-5,400 mAh, such a compromise looks questionable. Even a potential increase in capacity to “just below” 5,400 mAh doesn’t solve the problem and is perceived as lagging behind industry standards.
The Galaxy S26 Ultra’s 6.9-inch display does not seem to be a good fit for the Galaxy S26 Ultra.
Possible S Pen rejection could increase backlash
Additional discontent may be stirred up by a rumor about the possible abandonment of the S Pen stylus in the Galaxy S26 Ultra. However, a 400 mAh increase in battery capacity, a 20 gram weight loss and a half-millimeter reduction in body thickness are unlikely to compensate for the loss of one of the main elements of the Ultra series’ identity.
Although statistics show that most Galaxy S24 Ultra and S25 Ultra owners rarely use the S Pen, its presence is perceived as an important and prestigious feature – an attribute of the “best Android smartphone”. Removing the stylus with an almost unchanged battery may be perceived as a step backward, especially amid criticism for shutting down the Galaxy Note lineup, which Samsung has had to explain before.
Galaxy S26 Ultra may get Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 2
With this backdrop, rumors that only the Galaxy S26 Ultra will use Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 2 chipset are seen as positive news. This configuration will give the flagship a chance to compete with the expected performance of the iPhone 17 Pro Max. However, it’s not yet clear whether the chip will be available worldwide or remain exclusive to certain regions.
It’s not yet clear whether the chip will be available globally or remain exclusive to certain regions.
Although many users would like to see the entire Galaxy S26 lineup move to a single Snapdragon platform, the possibility of the models being split by chipset – using Exynos for the base versions – remains.
Samsung may drop the under-screen front camera
Also among the positive decisions is the refusal to introduce an under-screen front-facing camera in the Galaxy S26 Ultra. While this technology does make the lens less visible, it is costly and has so far degraded the quality of the footage. Possible retention of the traditional front-facing camera may improve the user experience and reduce the risks associated with flaws in newer technologies.
The bottom line: improvements are limited, risks are significant
The Galaxy S26 Ultra is at least seven months away from its official announcement, and all the parameters discussed so far remain at the rumor level. However, the trend that Samsung may once again retain battery capacity, drop the stylus, and limit charging to below 50W is already causing alarm among brand fans and experts.
The Galaxy S26 Ultra could still get isolated improvements, such as a powerful processor and doing away with inefficiencies like an under-screen camera. But against the backdrop of competitors offering real innovation in autonomy and ergonomics, these steps may not be enough to maintain its leadership position.
The Rumor: Samsung won’t increase the battery in the Galaxy S26 Ultra was first published on ITZine.ru.
