Samsung Galaxy S26 is finally going to copy this iconic iPhone feature, and it could change everything

SmartPrix renders of the galaxy s26 phones
(Image credit: SmartPrix / Tom's Guide)

Phone cases remain one of the best ways to keep your new phone safe, and a recent leak has highlighted potential options for the Galaxy S26 series, including built-in magnets.

The first set of images comes from well-known leaker Evan Blass and shows renders of the Galaxy S26, Galaxy S26 Plus and the Galaxy S26 Ultra in UAG cases. A fourth image also shows what appears to be the Galaxy S26 Ultra with a screen protector. The images provide another look at the pill-shaped camera block rumored to be part of the new design.

S26 UAG cases

(Image credit: Evan Blass @ X)

Meanwhile, a series of images posted by MysteryLupin has showcased what appears to be the Samsung Kindsuit cases for the Galaxy S26 Ultra. The cases also feature a cutout for the camera block, while also appearing to feature magnetic rings on the back. These leaks followed others, reported by SammyGuru, that showed off the boxes for the cases that describe them as “magnetic.”

If we combine this with the recent appearance of what appears to be a new magnetic wireless charger online, as shown by SAMMobile, then it would seem that Samsung is going all-in on magnets. We have seen recent leaks that Samsung

How does this compare to Apple's MagSafe?

iPhone 12

(Image credit: Tom's Guide)

The inclusion of magnetic charging would be a big win for Samsung, as it’s an area where the company has fallen behind the competition.

With that being said, Samsung did add Qi2 support for the Galaxy S25 Ultra, but the phone didn’t feature magnets built into the device, meaning you needed a case to actually utilize the feature. In comparison, Apple’s MagSafe has been built directly into the iPhone’s internal engineering since the iPhone 12. While both phones offer 15W charging speeds, the iPhone can reach up to 25W.

The big difference is that having the connection built in leads to a more stable connection, as you’re not relying on a case. If Samsung is indeed building its next generation of phones with the magnetic ring built in, then it should solve many of the issues seen in the devices. However, we’ll only know for sure when we see the phones officially.

On that note, we don’t have long to wait before we finally get an official look at the next generation of Samsung phones. Currently, it is agreed by most leakers and rumors that the next Galaxy Unpacked will occur on February 25, which is slightly later than last year's, meaning we could see the phones on shelves from March 11.


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Josh Render
Staff Writer

Josh is a staff writer for Tom's Guide and is based in the UK. He has worked for several publications but now works primarily on mobile phones. Outside of phones, he has a passion for video games, novels, and Warhammer. 

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