Fast charging has come a long way in recent years. Smartphone makers like OnePlus and Xiaomi have been racing ahead, pushing wired charging speeds beyond 100W on their flagship devices. Samsung, on the other hand, has taken a much more cautious approach. For several generations of its premium Galaxy S phones, the company has stuck with 45W wired charging, even as rivals continued to raise expectations.
That may finally change with the upcoming Galaxy S26 Ultra. Recent leaks suggest Samsung is preparing to upgrade its top-tier phone to 60W wired charging, marking the biggest jump in charging speeds the Ultra lineup has seen in years. There are also rumors pointing to a new PPS-based charging system that could deliver better real-world results compared to the 45W setup used on the Galaxy S25 Ultra. However, new information indicates the improvement might not be as dramatic as many were hoping.
According to a post shared on X by well-known leaker Ice Universe, Samsung’s internal testing shows that the Galaxy S26 Ultra can charge from 0 to 75 percent in around 30 minutes using the new 60W charging solution. These results are reportedly based on controlled lab conditions, which means everyday charging performance could vary depending on factors like temperature, battery health, and charger compatibility.
On the surface, those numbers sound solid, but they become less impressive when compared to Samsung’s current flagship. In testing of the Galaxy S25 Ultra, the phone already managed to hit roughly 75 percent in about the same amount of time when paired with a compatible 45W charger. That comparison suggests the jump from 45W to 60W may not translate into a huge time savings during typical charging sessions.
That said, charging speed is not just about total time to reach a certain percentage. How quickly a phone gains power in the early stages of charging often matters more in daily use. Earlier leaks hinted that Samsung’s new 60W system could deliver higher speeds at lower battery levels, which would make a noticeable difference when plugging in for short top-ups throughout the day.
If that proves accurate, the Galaxy S26 Ultra may still offer a better experience for users who frequently need a quick boost before heading out. Topping up from a low percentage could be faster and more convenient, even if charging from empty to near-full does not see a massive improvement over the previous generation.
It is also worth noting that Samsung appears to be keeping this faster charging tech exclusive to its Ultra model. Current reports suggest the standard Galaxy S26 may remain capped at 25W charging, while the Galaxy S26 Plus could continue with 45W fast charging. This would follow Samsung’s recent strategy of reserving certain hardware upgrades for its most expensive flagship.
As with all leaks, these details should be taken with caution until Samsung makes things official. Fortunately, confirmation may not be far away. The company is widely expected to unveil the Galaxy S26 lineup later this month, at which point charging speeds, battery performance, and real-world gains should become much clearer.
For now, the leaked test results paint a picture of modest progress rather than a dramatic leap. While 60W charging sounds like a significant upgrade on paper, the real benefit may come down to faster early-stage charging rather than a noticeably shorter overall wait time
