A Look at exclusive: Samsung defends S26 Qi2 omission – but S27 could fix it

The Galaxy S26 series is finally complete, but all four phones have a surprising omission.

No, I’m not talking about silicon-carbon batteries, even if their appearance on the Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Fold 8 Ultra makes a wider rollout highly likely.

Instead, it’s the lack of built-in Qi2 magnets that’s really grinding my gears. After the Pixel 10 series became the first major Android phones to introduce the tech, I thought it was inevitable that other top brands would follow suit.

But not Samsung. The Galaxy S26, S26+, S26 Ultra and new S26 FE all forgo the feature, relying on cases for compatibility instead.

Why hasn’t Samsung introduced built-in Qi2 yet?

I asked that exact question to Kadesh Beckford, Samsung’s Smartphone Specialist Product Manager, ahead of the Galaxy S26 FE launch.

He described the ubiquity of cases as a major driving force:

“Predominantly, I have cases on my devices, and also we see a high percentage of people, especially in the UK market, put cases on their devices”, he explained, referencing a YouGov poll from 2023 where 71% of respondents said they use a case or cover on their phone.

Beckford went on to imply that Samsung was comfortable with Qi2 support being optional via a case, rather than an inbuilt necessity:

“When you take those insights into consideration, having the cases that support Qi2 magnets means it completes the ecosystem from a charging perspective for those customers whilst also adding additional durability.”

However, the situation could look very different in a few months’ time…

Could the Galaxy S27 finally get built-in Qi2?

Despite Samsung’s current position, I asked Beckford directly if he would rule out including it in the future. Unsurprisingly, he and Samsung “can’t comment on [the] future roadmap”, though this leaves the door firmly open for a U-turn.

What’s more, the latest evidence points to a Galaxy S27 Ultra redesign that makes fitting in Qi2 magnets much more straightforward.

Android Headlines has partnered with established leaker OnLeaks to reveal CAD-based renders of Samsung’s next flagship. They highlight a significant change to the rear cameras, ditching the S26 Ultra’s vertical layout for an iPhone-style plateau at the top.

While built-in Qi2 magnets aren’t specifically mentioned, ditching its signature camera design would make little sense otherwise.

Samsung can’t afford to skip built-in Qi2, given the convenience of magnetic wireless charging and the huge ecosystem of magnetic accessories available. That includes those designed for the Pixel’s Pixelsnap and the iPhone’s MagSafe.

So, while Samsung’s official position on Qi2 is that cases are sufficient for now, all that could change once the Galaxy S27 series rolls around.

Read next:

• Galaxy S26 FE hands-on: The phone that already feels outdated
• Galaxy S26 FE colours ranked: From “Ribena vibes” to “Grandma’s bathroom”
• Galaxy S26 FE versus S25 FE: Which to buy?
• Galaxy S26 FE: Why Samsung should have skipped a year