Samsung has long kept its Galaxy flagship phones within certain boundaries, especially when it comes to battery capacity. While this was initially acceptable, the stagnant battery size started to feel outdated as competitors pushed forward. Despite various external pressures, Samsung's recent models have been reluctant to innovate in this department — until now.
Noteworthy Battery Upgrade on the Galaxy S26 Ultra
Next year’s Galaxy S26 Ultra is rumored to break the longstanding 5,000 mAh barrier with a modest increase to a 5,200 mAh battery. After multiple generations without a change, this minor bump is the upgrade many users have long awaited.
Additional Improvements Beyond Battery Size
Besides the incremental battery boost, Samsung is also increasing charging speeds. The Galaxy S26 Ultra will reportedly support 60W wired fast charging, an improvement over the previous 45W, as well as 25W wireless charging up from 15W. These enhancements mean quicker recharge times and more convenience for users.
Samsung Maintains a Slim Lead Over Apple
With the iPhone 17 Pro Max reaching parity in battery capacity as well as competitive RAM, storage, and processing speeds, Samsung barely holds its lead. Historically, Apple’s innovations — like the iPhone Air inspiring the Galaxy S25 Edge and rumors of a foldable iPhone pushing Samsung to release the Galaxy Z Fold 7 — have often spurred Samsung to respond.
Unfortunately, it seems Samsung is only doing the bare minimum necessary to stay ahead. After years of waiting to see Galaxy phones surpass the 5,000 mAh line, a 200 mAh increase feels underwhelming.
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Looking Ahead: What’s Next for Samsung?
Looking to the future, Android phones continue evolving. The rumored iPhone 18 will reportedly feature a camera with a variable aperture, prompting expectations that the Galaxy S27 might adopt similar optics. Although the Galaxy S26 Ultra is receiving a wider aperture lens and a redesigned rear camera island, Samsung is expected to step up its camera game to stay competitive.
Rumors about a foldable iPhone boasting a significantly larger battery than Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 7 suggest that the upcoming Galaxy Z Fold 8 will likely push battery capacity even further. If the iPhone Air returns, it wouldn’t be surprising to see the Galaxy Edge lineup revived too.
However, Samsung’s continuous reactionary approach—following Apple’s lead—has downsides. Past decisions such as removing the headphone jack or excluding charging bricks from the box serve as cautionary examples of blindly imitating Apple.
