Samsung Galaxy S26: 25W Charging, No Magnets—Here's Why That Matters

Samsung's Galaxy S26 series launches February 25, 2026, and the wireless charging story is... complicated.

The good news: The S26 supports Qi2.2 wireless charging at 25W—a 67% jump from the 15W most Android phones have been stuck with for years.

The catch: Samsung decided not to include built-in magnets. The S26 uses Qi2.2's "Base Power Profile" instead of the "Magnetic Power Profile"—which means you get the speed, but not the magnetic alignment that makes Qi2 actually useful.

Translation: You need a magnetic case to use Qi2 chargers, mounts, and accessories.

MagBak cases add the magnets Samsung skipped—plus maintain the full 25W charging speeds. Here's why that combination matters.

What Samsung Did (and Didn't Do)

✅ What the S26 Includes:

• Qi2.2 Base Power Profile (BPP) → 25W wireless charging speeds
• Faster charging → 0-50% in ~30-35 minutes (vs ~65 minutes at 15W)
• Improved efficiency → Less heat, better power transfer

❌ What the S26 Skips:

• Built-in magnets (no Magnetic Power Profile/MPP)
• Magnetic alignment with Qi2 chargers/accessories
• MagSafe-style snap-on compatibility

Why Samsung did this: Likely a combination of cost, S Pen interference concerns (on the Ultra), and design constraints. They've taken the same approach with the S24 and S25 series—support Qi2 speeds, but offload magnets to cases.

What that means for you: If you want to use Qi2 magnetic chargers, car mounts, battery packs, or wallets, you need a case with magnets.

Not just any case—a case with:

1. Strong enough magnets to hold securely (most cheap cases use weak N35 magnets)
2. Precise magnet placement to align with Qi2 spec (misalignment = slow charging + heat)
3. Thin enough profile to maintain 25W speeds (thick cases kill charging efficiency)

Why Most Magnetic Cases Will Slow Down Charging

Adding magnets to a case isn't enough. At 25W, the physics get strict. Wireless charging works through magnetic induction: a coil in the charger creates a magnetic field that induces current in your phone's coil. The further apart those coils are, the less efficient the transfer.

What reduces efficiency:

• Case thickness (3mm+ on the back = significant power loss)
• Poor magnet alignment (coils don't line up = wasted energy + heat)
• Heat buildup (trapped heat triggers thermal throttling)

At 15W, you could get away with a thicker case. At 25W, tolerances tighten. An extra 2mm of case thickness can drop you from 25W to 12W. Misaligned magnets waste energy as heat, triggering throttling.

The result: Your "25W" charger starts strong, then drops to 10W after 5 minutes because the case is too thick or the magnets aren't aligned properly.

How MagBak Cases Deliver Both: Magnets + Full 25W Speeds

We designed the Elite case around two non-negotiables: adding the magnets Samsung should have included and maintaining full 25W charging speeds.

1. N52 Magnets (Strongest Available)

The Elite case uses N52 neodymium magnets—the highest grade commercially available—positioned to match the Qi2.2 spec within 0.2mm tolerance.

• Stronger hold than cheap N35 magnets (40% more pull force)
• Perfect alignment every time (coils line up, no energy wasted)
• No slip on car mounts or vertical chargers

2. Ultra-Thin Profile (1.8mm Back)

The Elite case is 1.8mm thick on the back—slim enough to keep the phone's charging coil as close as possible to the charger.

3. Wireless-Charging-Optimized Materials

The case uses polycarbonate + TPU—materials that allow magnetic fields to pass through with minimal interference.

4. Heat Dissipation Design

The thin profile and material composition allow heat to escape instead of building up between the phone and charger. Less heat buildup = less thermal throttling = more time at peak 25W charging speeds.

The Real-World Difference

Let's compare two setups charging a Galaxy S26 from 0-50%:

• Setup A (Generic Magnetic Case): Starts at 14W, drops to 9W. Time to 50%: ~60 minutes.
• Setup B (MagBak Elite Case): Starts at 24W, maintains 18-22W for 25 minutes. Time to 50%: ~33 minutes.

Why Samsung's Approach Actually Makes Sense (For Us)

Samsung's decision to skip built-in magnets creates an opportunity for case makers who do it right. For users, it means a thinner naked phone and the choice to add magnets only if you need them. That's where MagBak wins—we're competing on doing magnets + 25W charging correctly.

Beyond Charging: The Full Qi2 Ecosystem

Adding magnets unlocks the entire Qi2 accessory ecosystem. Your S26 will work with magnetic wallets, grips, tripod mounts, and in-car mounts. Samsung gave you the charging speed; MagBak gives you the ecosystem.

When You Can Get It

S26 Announcement: February 25, 2026 MagBak Elite for Galaxy S26: Pre-orders open February 25, with shipping starting March 1. Available for S26, S26+, and S26 Ultra.

Thanks for reading! MagBak Team