Leaked internal tests published by the Ice Universe leaker indicate the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra’s new 60W wired charging brought a drained battery to about 75% in 30 minutes under laboratory conditions. The result is only a marginal improvement over the Galaxy S25 Ultra, which our review measured at 72% in the same period. Rumors also point to a slightly larger battery for the S26 Ultra — roughly 5,200mAh — though some sources still list 5,000mAh. Samsung has released a 60W charger ahead of the launch, but other upgrades such as faster wireless charging and magnetic cases remain unconfirmed.
Key Takeaways
- Leaked lab figure: 60W wired charging reportedly charges S26 Ultra from 0% to ~75% in 30 minutes, per Ice Universe.
- Comparison point: Galaxy S25 Ultra reached 72% in 30 minutes in independent testing, making the net gain about 3 percentage points.
- Battery capacity: Rumors suggest a 5,200mAh cell (+200mAh vs 2025 model), but some reports still say 5,000mAh.
- Charger launch: Samsung has listed or launched a 60W charger ahead of the S26 family debut, effectively confirming the wired rate for the Ultra.
- Wireless and accessories: Reports mention a potential wireless boost from 15W to 25W and magnetic cases, but those items lack firm confirmation.
- Model differentiation: The 60W figure appears to apply only to the Ultra; the S26 and S26+ are expected to remain at 25W and 45W, respectively.
Background
Smartphone charging speeds have been a competitive battleground for years, with vendors balancing peak wattage against battery longevity, heat management and regulatory limits. Samsung historically has been conservative on charging compared with some Chinese rivals, favoring battery health and thermal control over headline wattage. The S25 Ultra used a 45W-capable wired charging solution and delivered strong real-world 30-minute fill numbers in independent tests.
Leakers and accessory launches often reveal product-level changes before formal announcements; accessory listings can effectively confirm hardware support for higher charging rates. Independent test numbers from reviewers or lab-focused leaks frequently differ because of test conditions: battery state of health, ambient temperature and software power management can all change outcomes. That context matters when comparing a leaked lab result to a published reviewer test.
Main Event
The key leaked figure comes from Ice Universe, who posted that an internal test logged a 0% to 75% charge for the Galaxy S26 Ultra in 30 minutes using a 60W wired setup. The leak specifies the environment as a laboratory, implying controlled temperature and conditions, though details were not provided. If true, this result represents a small improvement over the S25 Ultra’s 72% marker in our prior review.
Samsung’s recent appearance of a 60W-capable charger in its accessory lineup strengthened expectations that at least one S26 variant would accept higher wired power. The company’s charger listing does not by itself guarantee final handset performance — firmware, thermal throttling and battery chemistry shape charge curves. Nonetheless, accessory availability is a strong practical indicator that the hardware will support the higher rate.
Separately, industry chatter suggests the S26 Ultra may carry a slightly larger battery (around 5,200mAh) versus the 5,000mAh figure used in 2025’s Ultra model. Other rumors promise wireless charging improvements — from 15W to 25W — and magnetic accessory support. Those items are circulating without firm confirmation, and some outlets still report the Ultra will retain 5,000mAh.
Analysis & Implications
A 0–75% result at 60W is technically a faster top-up than 45W produced for the S25 Ultra, but the margin is modest: roughly a 3 percentage-point improvement in the 30-minute window. For users who prioritize raw headline wattage, 60W is a meaningful spec upgrade, but real-world benefits depend on the full charge curve: how quickly the battery fills in the first 10–20 minutes, when thermal throttling begins, and the rate of tapering as the cell approaches full capacity.
Battery capacity changes compound the evaluation. A larger cell at the same charge power will naturally take longer to reach the same percentage, so a 5,200mAh S26 Ultra showing 75% in 30 minutes could be delivering similar energy in absolute terms to a 5,000mAh S25 Ultra at 72%. That nuance makes percentage-to-percentage comparisons potentially misleading without converting to milliampere-hours delivered in the same timeframe.
From a product strategy angle, Samsung appears to be incrementally raising wired power for the halo Ultra model while keeping mid-range and plus variants at lower rates. That approach preserves differentiation inside the family and reduces the engineering complexity of thermal management across the entire line. For consumers, the headline wattage matters less than consistent, cool charging and long-term battery health; Samsung’s cautious approach suggests it is prioritizing those trade-offs.
Comparison & Data
| Model | Reported Wired Rate | 30-min Charge (leak/review) | Battery (rumor) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Galaxy S25 Ultra | 45W | 72% (review) | 5,000mAh |
| Galaxy S26 Ultra | 60W (leak) | ~75% (leak) | 5,200mAh (rumor) / 5,000mAh (conflicting) |
The table shows reported 30-minute fill percentages and the nominal wired charging rates. Converting percent figures to watt-hours delivered would give a clearer energy comparison, but public leaks and reviews typically report percentages rather than absolute energy transferred. Differences in test temperature, preconditioning and software settings can change results by several percentage points.
Reactions & Quotes
“60W wired charging filled 0–75% in 30 minutes in a lab test,”
Ice Universe (leak account)
This short claim from the leaker set off renewed discussion about whether the 60W upgrade will produce a meaningful real-world improvement. Without accompanying test methodology, the figure is informative but incomplete.
“Results fail to impress,”
GSMArena (report)
That characterization reflects the comparison to the S25 Ultra’s performance: a small percentage-point gain on a higher wattage can undercut the marketing impact of the spec bump.
Unconfirmed
- Whether the S26 Ultra will ship with a 5,200mAh battery; some sources still list 5,000mAh for the Ultra.
- Exact laboratory conditions for the leaked 0–75% figure (ambient temperature, battery state, and firmware used) were not provided.
- A claimed wireless charging increase from 15W to 25W remains an unverified rumor until Samsung confirms specs.
- Whether retail units will replicate the leaked lab performance under everyday conditions is not verified.
Bottom Line
The leaked 60W figure and the accompanying 0–75% in 30 minutes result signal a measured, incremental upgrade for Samsung’s Ultra model rather than a transformative leap in charging speed. The practical gain over the S25 Ultra appears limited when judged by the 30-minute percentage, especially if the S26 Ultra carries a slightly larger battery in absolute capacity.
Consumers should weigh the incremental wired charging improvement against other factors — thermal behavior, battery longevity and any wireless charging enhancements — before viewing the 60W spec as a decisive advantage. Final verdicts should await official Samsung specifications and independent, repeatable tests that disclose methods and environmental conditions.
Sources
- GSMArena — Tech media report summarizing the leak and context.
- Ice Universe — Leaker account on X/Twitter that posted the internal test claim.