The 25W wireless charging feature of the Galaxy S26 Ultra may not function as claimed.

      Samsung's newest flagship complicates the experience of 25W wireless charging more than it should.

      With the introduction of the Galaxy S26 Ultra, Samsung rolled out several updates to its battery and charging capabilities, including a minor increase in battery size and improvements in both wired and wireless charging speeds.

      After years of user feedback, Samsung's latest flagship finally raises its wireless charging capacity to 25W, a significant upgrade from the previous 15W standard found in its high-end models. However, achieving those speeds may prove more challenging than anticipated.

      So, what's the issue?

      According to a Reddit user, the wireless charging performance of the S26 Ultra is heavily reliant on particular chargers, cases, and proper alignment. As a result, most users may not experience the full 25W wireless charging performance without adhering to these criteria. This means Samsung isn't misleading anyone, nor is there a hardware flaw; the situation relies on compatibility.

      A feature that functions… with stipulations

      Although the Galaxy S26 Ultra is capable of 25W wireless charging, it does not fully support native Qi2 magnetic alignment. Without these magnets, owners of the S26 Ultra must acquire a compatible charger and charging brick, as well as a case designed for accurate magnetic alignment. The Redditor notes that their S26 Ultra with a dbrand case never reached the claimed 25W wireless charging speeds, maxing out at 15W.

      However, switching to an official Samsung case restored the maximum charging speed. This indicates that the issue lies not with the phone or charger but rather with magnetic alignment and positioning. A response from dbrand further clarified that even minor discrepancies can hinder the phone's ability to achieve those 25W speeds.

      In simpler terms, your charging experience may differ significantly based on the case, the charger, and the precise positioning of your phone. This doesn't mean the Galaxy S26 Ultra's 25W wireless charging is ineffective, but there is a catch: real-world usage may involve more experimentation than many users might anticipate.

      Tech journalist and product reviewer focusing on consumer electronics. Sean has covered everything from flagship…

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      Samsung offers a rental option for Galaxy S26 Ultra at half the retail price for a year.

      However, even with this offer, the overall value may not be advantageous for users when comparing purchasing versus renting (considering the additional Galaxy Forever program fee) and the reduced resale value a year later.

      Samsung has unveiled a new approach to attract more customers to the Galaxy S26 lineup in one of its key markets. In a press release today, the company announced the “Galaxy Forever” program in India.

      While the name may be confusing, this is essentially a periodic upgrade program allowing buyers to obtain the Galaxy S26 Ultra (starting at $1502) or Galaxy S26 Plus (starting at $1,288) by paying 50% of the device's price upfront, divided into 12 interest-free monthly installments. The standard Galaxy S26 is not included in this offer.

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