New rumors surrounding Samsung’s early 2026 flagship lineup, the Galaxy S26 series, suggest that the company is planning a significant revamp that includes both a new naming convention and welcome battery capacity upgrades for most of the range. However, the top-tier Galaxy S26 Ultra is expected to be left out of the battery bump.
The latest details, which surfaced on the tech blog GalaxyClub, indicate that while Samsung is making improvements, it will not yet adopt the advanced silicon-carbon battery technology currently being used by some Chinese rivals to pack in much larger cells.
A New Lineup and Bigger Batteries
According to the report, the Galaxy S26 series will see a strategic shift in its naming. The “Plus” model is expected to be phased out in favor of a new “Edge” variant, while the base model will reportedly be renamed the Galaxy S26 Pro.
More importantly for users, both of these models are slated for a battery capacity increase:
- The Galaxy S26 Pro is rumored to feature a 4,300mAh battery, a notable increase from the 4,000mAh cell in the current Galaxy S25.
- The Galaxy S26 Edge is expected to house a 4,200mAh battery, up from the 3,900mAh pack in the Galaxy S25 Edge.
Interestingly, previous rumors have suggested that the Galaxy S26 Edge will be even thinner than its predecessor, making the inclusion of a larger battery an impressive feat of engineering.
Follow us on our socials
However, for those eyeing the top-of-the-line model, the Galaxy S26 Ultra will reportedly retain the same 5,000mAh battery as its predecessor.
Charging Speeds and Future Technology
While the Galaxy S26 Ultra may not get a larger battery, it could see an improvement in charging speed. Leaked code has previously hinted that the flagship will support 60W fast charging, a significant upgrade from the 45W support on the Galaxy S25 Ultra.
The rumors also suggest that Samsung is not yet ready to implement silicon-carbon battery technology. This advanced tech, already used by some Chinese smartphone makers, allows for higher energy density, enabling manufacturers to fit much larger capacities (6,000mAh and above) into their devices for record-breaking battery life. It’s speculated that Samsung may be holding this implementation for the Galaxy S27 series.
For now, the company may rely on software optimizations and its “agentic AI” to improve battery efficiency across the S26 lineup. While the incremental battery bumps for the Pro and Edge models are a welcome step, the wait for a major leap in battery technology from Samsung continues.
Discover more from Techspace Africa
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.