The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra, one of the most anticipated smartphones of the year, might face a significant setback in achieving its touted 65W charging speeds. Surprisingly, the issue does not seem to stem from Samsung but rather from Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset, known for its tendency to run hot during testing.
Despite the industry trend towards faster charging speeds, Samsung has historically fallen behind competitors like OnePlus in this aspect. The previous Galaxy S25 Ultra, for instance, maxed out at 45W, while the OnePlus 13 boasted an impressive 100W charging capability.
Rumors initially hinted at a breakthrough with the Galaxy S26 Ultra promising to address this limitation. However, recent leaks suggest that the device’s charging potential might be compromised due to the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5’s thermal performance, hindering the phone from reaching its full charging capacity.
Interestingly, Samsung’s in-house Exynos 2600 chip appears to fare better in terms of thermal management, potentially offering a more stable solution for achieving faster charging speeds. This disparity raises questions about Samsung’s strategic decision-making, especially if the company plans to divide its chip offerings regionally.
While Samsung’s cautious approach is understandable, given past battery safety concerns, the potential failure to deliver industry-leading charging speeds could disappoint consumers eagerly awaiting an upgrade in this crucial feature. As the smartphone market continuously evolves, maintaining a competitive edge in charging technology remains paramount for flagship devices like the Galaxy S26 Ultra.