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Get ready for a major Galaxy S26 Ultra battery disappointment

Samsung’s top-tier flagship might repeat its predecessors’ biggest mistake.

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By Ilia Temelkov

Updated: Aug 26, 2025, 3:28 PM

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Samsung Galaxy S Series

Get ready for a major Galaxy S26 Ultra battery disappointment

The Galaxy S25 Edge and S25 Ultra | Image credit — PhoneArena

It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that one of the biggest hopes of Samsung fans for the Galaxy S26 Ultra is related to its battery. While some rumors have suggested we’re down for faster charging speeds, it appears that the company doesn’t plan to increase the battery capacity.

New documentation from China’s Quality Certification Center, spotted by SamMobile, describes a battery with a product number EB-BS948ABY and a capacity of 4,855 mAh. The number suggests that it would be the battery of the Galaxy S26 Ultra, and its capacity is exactly the same as the Galaxy S25 Ultra.

The Quality Certification Center listing for the potential Galaxy S26 Ultra battery | Image credit &mdash; SamMobile - Get ready for a major Galaxy S26 Ultra battery disappointment

The Quality Certification Center listing for the potential Galaxy S26 Ultra battery | Image credit — SamMobile

If that listing is authentic, and there’s no reason to believe it isn’t, it means the Galaxy S26 Ultra may feature the same 5,000 mAh battery as every top-tier Samsung flagship since 2020. Yeah, that’s not a typo – the Galaxy S20 Ultra, S21 Ultra, S22 Ultra, S23 Ultra, S24 Ultra, and S25 Ultra all had the same 5,000 mAh battery capacity.

While that may disappoint many Samsung fans, it’s not all bad news about the S26 Ultra battery. Earlier reports suggested that the device would support 60W fast charging, which would be a notable improvement over the 45W supported since the release of the S22 Ultra.

Would you buy a Galaxy S26 Ultra if it has the same battery capacity?

Yes, that’s not the most important feature for me

20%

Only if the battery life is better than before

38.82%

Only if the design is different

3.53%

Absolutely no

37.65%

Samsung’s excuse for sticking with the same capacity for six years might be a combination of design concerns and optimizations. Just like every year, the combination of more efficient software and hardware could allow Samsung to squeeze more endurance from the same battery. On the other hand, the company might use a physically smaller battery with higher energy density and make the S26 Ultra much slimmer than previous models. All that’s just a speculation, but considering the company’s push to thin flagships with the S25 Edge, it makes sense.

I am firmly in the group of people who prefer a thicker device with a larger battery, and I believe we are a majority. However, providing a full day of autonomous work is what I need from my smartphone, and if Samsung can secure that with just 5,000 mAh, I’m down for a slimmer device. After all, Apple manages to squeeze fantastic endurance from the iPhone 16 Pro Max, and its battery is even smaller. So, Samsung needs to focus on efficiency and really deliver outstanding results or risk losing the trust of its most loyal fans.

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Ilia, a tech journalist at PhoneArena, has been covering the mobile industry since 2011, with experience at outlets like Forbes Bulgaria. Passionate about smartphones, tablets, and consumer tech, he blends deep industry knowledge with a personal fascination that began with his first Nokia and Sony Ericsson devices. Originally from Bulgaria and now based in Lima, Peru, Ilia balances his tech obsessions with walking his dog, training at the gym, and slowly mastering Spanish.

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