Samsung Finally Confirms S26 Ultra Galaxy Battery Capacity
JAKARTA - The successor to the Ultra Samsung flagship is now a little more open to its mysteries, thanks to the latest listing at the China's Quality Certification Center (CQC). The certification confirms that the Galaxy S26 Ultra will return to using a 5,000mAh capacity battery (with a measurable value of 4,855mAh, the EB-BS948ABY model).
Those are exactly the same cells used in the Galaxy S25 Ultra and any Ultra model since the S20 Ultra in 2020.
Leaks had previously hinted that the S26 Ultra might be upgraded to 5.400mAh or even 5.500mAh, but this certification denied it. Instead, Samsung relies on faster charging as its main upgrade, with phones expected to support 60W cable charging. That's an improvement from the standard 45W that the company has maintained since the S22 Ultra.
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Another strategy is efficiency. The S26 Ultra will almost certainly run the Snapdragon 8 Elite 2, combined with software optimization at One UI 8 (Android 16). In theory, it means better battery life even if the capacity is the same.
However, there are challenges: chipset and the same Android level optimization will also move the upcoming flagship of Oppo, Vivo, OnePlus, and Xiaomi. Many of these competitors have tested or launched phones with a 7,000mAh+ battery and charging speed well beyond 80W.
In comparison, Samsung's increased efficiency may not translate into a striking advantage at least not to devices that combine larger batteries and charge faster.
Samsung is expected to launch the Galaxy S26 Ultra in January 2026, with prices starting to be equivalent or above the launch price of the S25 Ultra, which is $1,299. In addition to its unchanged battery capacity, the S26 Ultra is expected to bring an updated design with a more rounded angle and a 200MP camera setup that is familiar to Samsung.
For loyal Samsung fans, this Ultra series will still offer a strong day-long endurance. But in a bigger picture, the lack of capacity building can make it more difficult for Samsung to keep up with rivals from China who drive battery life to completely new territory.