Samsung may not fully embrace native Qi2 wireless charging with magnets on its upcoming Samsung Galaxy S26 series, according to newly surfaced case listings. While earlier reports suggested Samsung could integrate Qi2 magnets directly into the phones, new evidence points toward a different approach.
Images shared by Dutch retailer NieuweMobiel, cited by 9to5Google, show official Samsung cases for the Galaxy S26, Galaxy S26 Plus, and Galaxy S26 Ultra in both magnetic and non-magnetic variants. The presence of non-magnetic first-party cases strongly suggests that the phones themselves may not include built-in Qi2 magnets.
Without native magnets, proper alignment with Qi2 wireless chargers and magnetic accessories would rely on compatible cases rather than the handset hardware. This would place Samsung behind competitors such as Apple and Google, both of which already offer full Qi2 compatibility in recent iPhone and Pixel models.
The Galaxy S26 lineup is expected to debut on February 26 in select markets.
Galaxy S26 Ultra S Pen design changes surface
NieuweMobiel has also published images of the S Pen designed for the Galaxy S26 Ultra, revealing a notable change in color strategy. Unlike previous Galaxy S Ultra models, the stylus is reportedly limited to black and white finishes, while the tip color will match the handset’s variants, which are said to include Cobalt Violet, Black Shadow, White Shadow, and Galactic Blue.
Despite the revised appearance, the S Pen is expected to retain its physical button and top click mechanism. Similar to the Galaxy S25 Ultra, Bluetooth functionality — including Air Actions — may once again be absent.
Satellite connectivity and hardware expectations
According to FCC filings referenced by 9to5Google, all three Galaxy S26 models may support satellite communication standards such as Supplemental Coverage from Space (SCS) and Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTN). This could enable messaging or emergency SOS features in areas without cellular coverage, potentially using Skylo as the satellite network provider.
Additional expectations for the Galaxy S26 series include:
- Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy chipset (with possible Exynos 2600 variants in select regions)
- Wireless charging up to 25W, without full Qi2 magnet support
- Higher base storage, potentially starting at 256GB on some models
- A privacy-focused display layer on the Galaxy S26 Ultra
- A 5,000mAh battery and an upgraded 12MP 3× telephoto camera on the Ultra model
Samsung has not yet confirmed any of these details.
