Galaxy S26 Ultra’s 25W wireless charging might not work as advertised

Samsung's latest flagship makes 25W wireless charging harder than it should be.

By Vikhyaat Vivek Published March 19, 2026

Electronics, Mobile Phone, Phone — Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra Samsung

With the Galaxy S26 Ultra, Samsung introduced a bunch of updates to the battery and charging. We got a slight bump in battery size, wired, and wireless charging speeds.

After years of complaints from the fans, Samsung’s latest flagship finally upgrades the wireless charging to 25W. This was a notable jump from 15W, which was the standard across its premium lineup. But it seems like getting those speeds might be harder than expected.

So what went wrong?

According to a Redditor, the S26 Ultra’s wireless charging is highly dependent on specific chargers, cases, and alignment. Meaning, most users may never actually see that full 25W wireless charging performance if you don’t meet these requirements. So Samsung didn’t lie to you, and nor is it a hardware issue; it’s all about compatibility.

A feature that works… with conditions

While the Galaxy S26 Ultra supports 25W wireless charging, it lacks full native Qi2 magnetic alignment. Without these built-in magnets, S26 Ultra owners need to purchase a compatible charger and brick, along with a case with proper magnet alignment. In the post, the Redditor talks about how his S26 Ultra with a dbrand case never hit the advertised 25W wireless charging speeds, maxing out at 15W.

Comment
byu/Time-Credit43 from discussion
indbrand

But switching to the official Samsung case restored the full speed. This suggested that the problem wasn’t with the phone or charger itself. And it appears that the issue may come down to magnetic alignment and positioning. An official response from dbrand further explained that even small variations can prevent the phone from achieving those 25W speeds.

Recommended Videos

In other words, your charging experience could vary wildly depending on the case you’re using, the charger, and how precisely the phone is positioned. None of this implies that the Galaxy S26 Ultra’s 25W wireless charging doesn’t work. But there’s a catch. The real-world experience might require a bit more trial and error than most users expect.

Vikhyaat Vivek is a tech journalist and reviewer with seven years of experience covering consumer hardware, with a focus on…

Topics

Phones

I picked four wireless chargers so you can stop making your iPhone, AirPods, and Apple Watch fight over one dorm outlet

The best back-to-school wireless chargers for dorm desks, study spaces, and travel

Computer, Electronics, Laptop

A dorm-room desk can disappear surprisingly quickly beneath a laptop charger, phone cable, Apple Watch puck, and the growing collection of adapters required to power them all. Add textbooks and other academic materials, and finding enough room to study becomes the first assignment of the semester.

A wireless charging stand can consolidate several of those cables into one station. It also gives your phone a dedicated place to sit, which helps when you are checking the time or watching a lecture. Every charger here still needs one connection to the wall. So finding a peripheral that works with all of your gadgets isn't just convenient, it's smart. I picked four models ranging from an inexpensive two-device stand to a fast 25W wireless charger capable of powering an entire Apple setup.

Phones

Your backpack needs one of these power banks before classes start

I picked 4 power banks that can survive your longest day on campus

Anker Nano 3-in-1 10,000mAh portable power bank for iPhone.

Finding an empty outlet on campus can require more patience than registering for a popular class. Common spaces like libraries or lecture halls rarely have sockets in the right places. So a good power bank gives you far more freedom. It gives you the option to choose the quiet corner of the library, work outside between classes, or even finish an assignment without worrying about your laptop's battery.

The right model depends on what you carry, since a phone needs far less power than a MacBook or gaming laptop. I picked four Anker power banks that cover everything from everyday phone charging to running several demanding devices at once.

Phones

The Minimal Phone 2 looks dramatically better than the original, and I’m genuinely here for it

Plastic is out, metal is in, and Minimal Phone 2's renders suggest the digital detox phone concept finally has the hardware to match its ambition.

Electronics, Mobile Phone, Phone

I've been following the Minimal Phone since its initial crowdfunding days. The first iteration had the right idea trapped inside the wrong body, I’d say. Plastic build, no 5G, an underwhelming camera, and e-paper ghosting that frustrated early adopters; all these issues kept the phone from reaching a wider audience.

Now, founder Armen Youssefian has posted what appears to be a 360-degree render of the Minimal Phone 2 on X, and from what I can see, the team has done its homework.