Samsung Galaxy S26 Qi2 wireless charging may be a sold separately option
Samsung may be developing a unique strategy to roll out universal wireless charging compatibility on the Galaxy S line for the first time.
The upcoming Galaxy S26 series, which is set to launch in late February, was expected to feature the Qi2 charging standard natively on its handsets. However, recent reports suggest that the devices will only have the charging compatibility through accessories, such as cases and wireless chargers.
The industry has seen manufacturers, including Samsung, truncate what is offered within smartphone packaging in terms of cords and plugs, and will advertise the latest fast charging technology as a sold separately option. It is possible this is the brand’s current strategy. With Samsung offering both a standard case without Qi2 support and the Qi2 charging case, consumers could be forced to purchase a Qi2-enabled case to benefit from wireless charging features. Samsung has already announced its 25W magnetic wireless charger, which is another sold separately product, according to Sam Mobile.
Rumors indicate that Samsung had plans to fully integrate Qi2 magnets into the Galaxy S26 smartphones to enable the universal Qi2 charging standard on its devices but has since shifted those plans to future flagship series. The rollout may not occur until next year. Until then, the manufacturer appears to have a focus on adding Qi2 magnets to accessories, according to Nieuwemobiel.nl.
The informant shared leaked images and details, which indicated that Samsung Galaxy S26 series official cases will come in both standard options and “built-in MagSafe options,” with the latter expected to support the latest charging standard.
The Wireless Power Consortium (WPC) announced availability of the latest Qi2 charging standard in July 2025, bringing universal wireless charging ability up to 25-watts to numerous devices, including Android smartphones. The WPC detailed that just over a dozen devices, receivers, and transmitters had already been certified according to the standard ahead of the official announcement. The HMD Skyline launched in July 2024 as the first Android smartphone with Qi wireless certification, followed by the Pixel 10 line of smartphones in August 2025. Outside of these devices, other brands that have included some form of Qi wireless charging compatibility, include the Oppo Find X8 and X9, which have taken a similar approach to Samsung with Qi enabled accessories instead of integrating the devices.