The highly anticipated Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra is rumored to retain its 5,000mAh battery, according to leaked specs. This suggests the 2026 Samsung flagship may delay adopting advanced silicon-carbon battery technology seen in rival phones. Photographer: Yuki Iawmura/Bloomberg
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As rival companies release phones with giant batteries using new silicon-carbon technology, a new leak suggests Samsung will stick with a familiar battery size for the upcoming Galaxy S26. But that doesn’t mean the Korean company won’t release a big-battery phone next year. Read on for more and check out my video on silicon carbon batteries below.
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra Will Feature A Normal-Sized Battery
Reliable leaker Ice Universe posted the full leaked specifications of the upcoming Samsung Galaxy S26 earlier this week. These are by far the most comprehensive details we’ve seen of the Galaxy S26 range so far, and they reveal some interesting tidbits.
The most eye-catching is that the Galaxy S26 Ultra will sport a 5,000mAh battery, just like the Galaxy S25 Ultra. If accurate, that means Samsung’s next flagship phone likely won’t be powered by a denser silicon-carbon battery, and we won’t see a huge jump in battery life for the Korean company’s 2026 flagship.
It’s the same story with the Galaxy S26 Plus, which will feature the same 4,900mAh power pack as the Galaxy S25 Plus. However, the base Galaxy S26 will receive a small 300mAh increase in its battery, up to 4,300mAh.
No Silicon-Carbon Battery In The Galaxy S26? Maybe Not Yet
Korean publication The Financial News reported in February that Samsung was considering incorporating silicon batteries into its “next smartphone.” These leaks suggest otherwise.
Samsung also said in a June interview with Tom’s Guide that the company is “always looking at…emerging technology” in response to a question about silicon-carbon batteries.
But Samsung’s “next smartphone” doesn’t necessarily just mean the initial Galaxy S26 handsets that will be unveiled in January. There are the foldable devices in the summer, alongside the Galaxy S26 FE launch in fall, in addition to other mid-range releases throughout the year.
I wouldn’t be surprised if the May release spot reserved for the Galaxy S26 Edge, which could be cancelled due to poor sales, will be repurposed for a Galaxy S26 silicon-carbon battery-powered phone.
Launched on May 13th, the Galaxy S25 Edge used a new mounting system and camera redesign to make the phone slimmer, which we have seen redeployed in the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and likely the new Galaxy Tri-Fold. Before that, Samsung released a one-off Note Edge in 2014 (on a separate date to the then flagship Galaxy S5) using new curved-glass technology, which eventually made its way to the main Galaxy S line a year later.
Samsung’s habit of releasing one-off devices with new technology, separate from its regular phones, would be a perfect vehicle for a phone powered by a silicon-carbon-battery. The risk that comes with these batteries (swelling and shorter lifespan) won’t be etched into the Galaxy S26’s Wikipedia page while providing a useful testing ground for gauging consumer interest.