Samsung has confirmed that the Galaxy S26 series does not include a Qi2 magnet built into the phone, justifying this as part of its commitment to providing thinner and lighter designs. She explained that the phones support Qi2-compatible covers, which gives users flexibility without the need to integrate magnets into the device itself.
It is true that the thinness of the Galaxy S26 Ultra gives it a better feel in the hand compared to its large size, but this decision raises practical questions. Samsung has increased the wireless charging speeds of the Galaxy S26+ and Galaxy S26 Ultra to 25 watts, but taking advantage of this speed requires a magnetic cover.
Qi specifications state that 25W is associated with the MPP magnetic charging coil, while the traditional EPP coil remains limited to 15W. Since there are no 25W chargers available without magnetic alignment, using a magnetic cover becomes almost mandatory to get maximum speed.
In theory you could use a magnetic charger and align it manually, but the experience would be impractical. Transferring responsibility for magnets to covers also creates an additional problem, as not all covers contain magnets, whether from Samsung itself or from other companies, which makes the experience vary from one user to another.
On the other hand, integrating magnets into the phone has proven effective in iPhone devices over the past years, as it ensures uniformity of the experience and availability of the feature for all users, regardless of the type of cover. So, it seems that the absence of the Galaxy S26’s built-in Qi2 magnet goes beyond the issue of thinness to impact the completeness of the wireless charging experience itself.
