Samsung Galaxy S26 Battery Upgrade Tipped to Raise Capacity

Samsung is reportedly considering adding battery-extending technology to the Galaxy S26 smartphone range, which some believe should have been included in the Galaxy S25.

A recent report from South Korean outlet Fnnews suggests that Samsung is exploring the use of silicon-carbon (Si-C) battery technology in the upcoming Galaxy S26 lineup.

Here’s what this could mean for Samsung’s future flagship devices and why there is some disappointment surrounding this news.

What is silicon-carbon technology?

Silicon-carbon technology is a new advancement that allows for more densely packed batteries compared to the current lithium-ion (Li-ion) standard. By replacing graphite with silicon in the cathode material, it enables higher charge capacity in a cell with similar dimensions.

This is evident in phones like the OnePlus 13, which features a large 6000mAh ‘Silicon NanoStack’ battery in a thinner and lighter design compared to the OnePlus 12 with a 5400mAh battery.

What Si-C could mean for Samsung phones

According to the report, Samsung is considering integrating silicon-carbon technology into the Galaxy S26 series. This could potentially increase battery sizes from 4000mAh in the Galaxy S25 to 6000mAh in the Galaxy S26 – a 50% improvement.

For the top-tier model, the 5000mAh Galaxy S25 Ultra battery may expand to 7000mAh in the Galaxy S26 Ultra.

Si-C technology could help Samsung address a weakness in its flagship phones by enabling faster charging, potentially surpassing the current 25W-45W charging rates seen in the Galaxy S line.

Better late than never from Samsung

While the inclusion of silicon-carbon technology in Samsung’s flagship phones is welcome news, it feels like it may be overdue by a year.

Competing devices like the OnePlus 13 have already incorporated this technology into their flagship models this year. Xiaomi is also rumored to be using Si-C to enhance the battery capacity of its upcoming foldable phone, the Mix Flip 2, potentially outshining the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 and 7 in this aspect.

This could make the Galaxy S25, S25 Plus, and especially the high-end S25 Ultra seem outdated, particularly in terms of battery capacity and charging speeds.

The report indicates that Samsung’s slower adoption of this technology is attributed to the larger volume of units it produces compared to Chinese manufacturers, but this may not satisfy power users who are tired of carrying portable chargers.