Samsung is secretly prepping a speedy charging upgrade for its Galaxy S26 Ultra

With fresh evidence buried inside One UI 8.5’s internal code, Samsung appears to be preparing a long-overdue wired charging boost for its top flagship.

By Shikhar Mehrotra Published November 28, 2025

The back of the Galaxy S25 Ultra Magnetic Charging Cover attached to the phone in the hand — Nirave Gondhia / Digital Trends

What’s happened? The latest leaked version of One UI 8.5 includes a new charging label, suggesting the Galaxy S26 series could get a much-awaited charging speed upgrade.

According to an Android Authority report, the One UI 8.5 code contains references to “Super Fast Charging 3.0.”
Furthermore, there’s a new “level 4” entry in the code, strongly suggesting that Samsung is preparing its custom user interface for 60W wired charging.
The increased charging speed could benefit the upcoming Galaxy S26 Ultra (as it is rumored to get a charging speed boost).

Why is this important? For years, Samsung’s top-tier flagship, the ‘Ultra’ variant of the Galaxy S lineup, has stuck with 45W wired charging, while the competition has moved up to 80W, 100W, or even 120W.

For instance, the upcoming OnePlus 15, which recently received FCC approval, features a 7,300 mAh battery that supports 80W wired charging. Globally, the handset supports 120W wired charging.
An upgrade to 60W wired charging for the Galaxy S26 Ultra could be a meaningful and welcome addition, especially if the company decides to increase the handset’s battery capacity over 5,000 mAh.

Recommended Videos

Why should I care? For those planning to upgrade to the Galaxy S26 Ultra, 60W wired charging speed could translate to significantly shorter charging sessions.

That means less waiting for your phone to charge, especially if you plug in on the go and need a quick power boost.
If you’re using an old Galaxy S series device, the Galaxy S22 Ultra, or the Galaxy S23 Ultra, the faster wired charging speed might encourage you to upgrade to the Galaxy S26 Ultra.

OK, what’s next? Given that Super Fast Charging 3.0 has only been spotted in internal code, it could change before the official release.

Samsung might be limiting the 60W wired charging to the Galaxy S26 Ultra due to hardware constraints.
As the official launch of the Galaxy S26 series approaches, watch for information on first-party accessories, such as 60W adapters.
The Galaxy S26 series is also expected to debut with a magnetic ring in its back panel, making it fully compatible with the Qi2 charging standard.

Shikhar Mehrotra

News Writer

For more than five years, Shikhar has consistently simplified developments in the field of consumer tech and presented them…

Topics

Phones

The $1,500 flagship might be closer than you think

Flip phones already broke the $1,500 mark this year, and slab flagships aren't far behind.

iPhone 17 Pro and Google Pixel 10 Pro.

In July, a Google executive broke the silence on the ongoing memory crisis, highlighting a more than fourfold increase in RAM prices between 2025 and 2026, and I haven't stopped thinking about it since. The prices have gone up from $2.80 in 2025 to roughly $12 in 2026, as mentioned in the same report. Run the math for a 16GB memory package, and the cost to the company has apparently gone up from $45 to $192.

That's not a rounding error; it's the floor moving under the entire industry's feet. Google is not alone in speaking about the ongoing memory crisis. We've also seen Nothing's CEO speak about it, and other brands like Motorola, OnePlus, and Xiaomi make price adjustments across their lineup.

Phones

I’ve used the Pixel 10 Pro a year. I hope Google fixes these nagging issues on the Pixel 11 Pro

Electronics, Mobile Phone, Phone

I’ve been using the Google Pixel 10 Pro for almost a year now, which means I’ve had plenty of time to figure out what I love about it and, more importantly, what still gets on my nerves. And with the Pixel 11 Pro launching on August 12, just three days from now, my wishlist for Google has gotten pretty long. There’s a lot the Pixel already gets right. The software is still one of my favorite Android experiences, performance is generally solid, and Google’s Gemini features have become genuinely useful in ways I didn’t expect. Those are all big reasons I’ve stuck with Pixel phones for as long as I have.

But spend enough time with any phone and the little annoyances stop feeling so little. Over the past year, I’ve run into a handful of recurring Pixel problems that I really don’t want to carry over to another generation. Some have frustrated me for months, while others have made me question whether I can completely rely on my Pixel when I need it most. So, with the Pixel 11 Pro almost here, I have a few things I desperately want Google to get right this time.

Computing

Apple is testing Chinese DRAM even after CXMT refused to cut prices

Apple may be testing CXMT memory for iPhones and MacBooks

iPhone 17 Pro Max

Apple’s search for more memory supply has taken another step forward. The company is now testing DRAM from Chinese manufacturer CXMT across several products, including iPhones and MacBooks, according to The Wall Street Journal. Apple has also held early talks with CXMT about supplying memory for some devices sold in China and is seeking support from the US government before moving ahead.

The timing is particularly interesting. Just recently, we learned that a shortage of DRAM could already be holding up production of the A20 Pro chip expected inside the iPhone 18 Pro. TSMC is said to have around $1 billion worth of finished chips waiting for memory before packaging can continue.