SEOUL, Jan 31, 2026, 17:57 (KST)
- Leaked renders reveal a revamped rear camera setup for the Galaxy S26 Ultra, alongside early details on its flagship specs.
- Photos of Samsung’s “Magnetic Wireless Charger” hint at 25W Qi2 wireless charging support for the S26 series.
- More leaks and tech sites now point to a Galaxy Unpacked event in late February as the likely launch date.
Leaked renders of Samsung Electronics’ upcoming Galaxy S26 Ultra reveal a raised rear camera island, according to Android Headlines. The flagship is expected to run Android 16 with One UI 8.5 and pack Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset. It will reportedly keep its 6.9-inch QHD+ display, 5,000mAh battery, and a 200-megapixel main camera, among other specs. 1
The steady stream of S26 leaks is important because Samsung’s early-year “Unpacked” event aims to shake up the premium Android hierarchy. Even a minor hardware tweak can carry more weight than just a processor upgrade, especially when buyers are questioning if last year’s model is “good enough.”
Charging has become a key battleground. Magnetic alignment simplifies wireless charging and fuels an accessory market filled with snap-on battery packs, wallets, and car mounts. Apple has quietly held an edge here, while Samsung has been driven to catch up both by competitors and its own accessory business.
SamMobile revealed photos of Samsung’s new “Magnetic Wireless Charger” (model EP-P2900BBEGWW), featuring a Qi2 25W logo. Qi2 is the latest wireless charging standard that uses magnets to align the charger and phone more precisely. According to SamMobile, Samsung suggests using this charger with a 45W USB Power Delivery (USB-PD) adapter, a fast-charging spec over USB-C. The site also noted that the full 25W wireless output will probably be reserved for the S26 Ultra, while the S26 and S26+ will have lower limits. Older “Qi2 Ready” Galaxy devices are capped at 15W, based on details from the box. 2
Engadget highlighted an image from tipster Evan Blass pointing to February 25 as the date for the upcoming Unpacked event, though Samsung hasn’t confirmed the details yet. The site expects the Galaxy S26’s design to stay close to last year’s S25. Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chip is rumored to be standard across models, while Yonhap News suggests the Exynos 2600 could still show up in select markets. Another rumor links the Ultra’s stylus to full Qi2 magnetic support, hinting that Samsung might revamp the layer that detects S Pen input. 3
Samsung is pushing on-device AI as a key upgrade selling point, shifting the focus to chips and energy efficiency even when the external design stays mostly the same. “We will apply AI to all products, all functions, and all services as quickly as possible,” co-CEO T M Roh told Reuters in an interview on Jan. 5. 4
The competitive landscape is well known: Apple offers its own magnetic charging and accessory setup, while Google focuses on tighter integration between Android phones and accessories, adding device-finding features linked to its services. Samsung aims to hold onto customers within its ecosystem but still leans on unique perks, like the built-in pen on the Ultra model.
Leaks tend to be messy. Renders might show early designs, not the final product, and charging speeds rely heavily on heat control and software caps just as much as the wattage rating. Samsung might even skip magnets inside the phone and rely on cases instead, which would hurt the appeal for anyone wanting a straightforward “snap-on” experience.
Samsung hasn’t revealed specifics about the Galaxy S26 series or when the next Unpacked event will drop. But leaks and reports are painting a pretty clear picture: minor design tweaks, the same camera setup, and a stronger focus on magnetic wireless charging.
