February 25, 2026, 2:49 pm | Read time: 2 minutes
This evening, Samsung is officially unveiling the new Galaxy S26 series. Practically all details about the new devices have leaked in advance–not least through a hands-on video showing the Galaxy S26 Ultra with a privacy display. Only the battery specifications had remained unclear until now. However, a recent report fills this gap and surprises with a significant downgrade compared to the S25 series.
The online portal “Ytechb” claims to have had early access to the official EU energy labels for all three Galaxy S26 models. In the EU, manufacturers must register their devices in the EPREL product registry (European Product Registry for Energy Labelling). The database is publicly accessible to consumers and contains information on battery, durability, and repairability.
Lower Battery Capacity and Fewer Charge Cycles
The leaked data sheets reveal not only the model names of the three devices but also their battery capacities:
- Galaxy S26 (SM-S942B/DS): 4,175 milliampere-hours (mAh)
- Galaxy S26 Plus/Edge (SM-S947B/DS): 4,755 mAh
- Galaxy S26 Ultra (SM-S948B/DS): 4,855 mAh
While the Galaxy S26 is expected to have a roughly 4 percent larger battery compared to its predecessor, the capacity of the other models appears to be about 3 percent smaller.
But that’s not all. For the S25 series, Samsung stated in the EPREL database that the nominal battery capacity would drop below 80 percent after 2,000 charge cycles. For the S26 series, this figure reportedly falls to just 1,200 cycles. When a battery charges to less than 80 percent of its original capacity, a replacement is generally recommended. If you charge the smartphone on average once a day, you would reach this point after more than five years. With the S26 series, it’s just over three years.
Durability and Repairability
All three models of the Galaxy S26 series, like their predecessors, have an IP68 rating. This means they are dustproof and can withstand temporary submersion in water.
In repeated drop tests from a defined height, the series received an “A” rating. This indicates high durability against everyday drops.
The repairability rating is less positive. Here, the devices receive a “C” rating, indicating increased effort for repairs, such as replacing individual components.