According to Digital Trends, a leak from tipster @UniverseIce shows the Galaxy S26 could finally include native Qi2 wireless charging with built-in magnets. The diagram reveals a 6.9mm side profile that’s 0.3mm thinner than the Galaxy S25 and displays a ring-shaped magnetic structure on the back panel. This comes after Samsung made the S25 series “Qi2-ready” but still required magnetic cases for full functionality. The S26 series is expected to launch in late January 2026, with Qualcomm’s CEO stating their chips will power 75% of units while the rest get Samsung’s Exynos 2600. With all these upgrades, the 2026 flagship might also see a price increase.
Samsung finally catches up
Here’s the thing – Samsung has been playing catch-up in the magnetic charging game for years. Apple introduced MagSafe back in 2020, and Google just rolled out their Pixel Snap system with the Pixel 10. Meanwhile, Samsung users have had to buy separate magnetic cases to get similar functionality. It’s kind of embarrassing for the world’s largest smartphone maker, honestly.
And let’s be real – magnetic charging isn’t just about convenience. It’s about creating an ecosystem. Once you have those magnets built in, suddenly all sorts of accessories become viable – car mounts, wallet attachments, stands. Samsung’s been missing out on that entire accessory market while Apple’s been cleaning up.
Why Qi2 matters
What’s interesting here is Samsung going with Qi2 rather than some proprietary system. Basically, Qi2 is becoming the universal standard for magnetic wireless charging. Some Chinese manufacturers use their own tech, but that locks you into their ecosystem. With Qi2, if you’re switching from an iPhone and already have MagSafe accessories, they should just work with the S26.
Think about that – someone with a drawer full of MagSafe chargers and mounts could theoretically switch to Samsung without making all that stuff obsolete. That’s huge for customer retention and attracting iPhone users. Samsung’s basically admitting that Apple got this one right and following their lead.
The bigger picture
Now, the timing here is pretty crucial. With rumors of a delayed launch swirling, Samsung needs to make sure the S26 has enough compelling features to justify what will probably be a higher price tag. Magnetic charging might seem like a small thing, but it’s one of those quality-of-life improvements that people really appreciate once they have it.
And let’s not forget the chip situation – Qualcomm powering 75% of units while Samsung uses its own Exynos chips for the rest. That’s always been a bit of a sore spot for consistency. But honestly, most people care more about daily usability features like charging than which specific chip is inside.
So is this enough to make the S26 a must-buy? Probably not on its own. But it’s one more piece of the puzzle that makes Samsung’s flagship competitive in areas where they’ve been lagging. Sometimes catching up is just as important as innovating.
