Galaxy S26 Ultra: New leak delivers bad news for battery capacity

Initial rumours hinted at a much-needed battery upgrade for the Galaxy S26 Ultra. It was to get a 5,500 mAh cell that charges at 65 Watts. Sammobile has now debunked at least one of those claims by spotting a certification listing on China Quality Certification's website that clearly shows the Galaxy S26 Ultra's battery.

It goes by the codename EB-BS948ABE, and it has a rated capacity of 4,885 mAh, usually marketed as 5,000 mAh. The S948 part confirms it is the Galaxy S26 Ultra because the Galaxy S25 Ultra was codenamed SM-S938. Furthermore, the battery is rated for up to 4.5 volts, but that alone can't determine its charging speed without knowing how many Amperes it pulls.

While a higher charging Wattage still might be on the cards, the reduced capacity will make the Galaxy S26 Ultra a less attractive buy compared to other flagships. For example, the Xiaomi 16 is tipped to arrive with a gargantuan 7,000 mAh cell. Its sibling, the Xiaomi 16 Pro Max, might feature an even later 7,500 mAh battery.

That said, it isn't all doom and gloom. The Galaxy S26 Ultra is tipped to arrive with meaningful upgrades, such as a 'Flex Magic Pixel' display that uses the power of AI to keep prying eyes away from your screen. Then its ISOCELL HP2 sensor will have a larger F/1.4 aperture, allowing it to capture more light. Lastly, it will pair its Snapdragon 8 Elite 2 for Galaxy with 10.7 Gbps LPDDR5X RAM.