Last year, Samsung chose not to include native Qi2 magnets in the Galaxy S25. That decision was irritating for many users, although Samsung at least disclosed it up front. This year, with the Galaxy S26, the situation around Qi2 support has grown even more frustrating.
Early leaks made it seem like Samsung would finally build Qi2 magnets directly into the S26 phones. The company even developed a range of Qi2 accessories for the lineup — including a 25W magnetic wireless charger, a magnetic power bank with a 5,000mAh capacity, and several magnetic case designs — which suggested native Qi2 support was coming. Those accessories implied Samsung planned an ecosystem comparable to other manufacturers offering magnetic charging solutions.
However, recent reports now claim Samsung won’t include Qi2 magnets inside the actual Galaxy S26 devices. Instead, the magnets have reportedly been moved into dedicated magnetic cases. That means the accessories Samsung designed will not attach to a bare S26; buyers will need to purchase one of Samsung’s magnetic cases for the peripherals to function properly.
That approach creates a frustrating user experience. Apple and Google allow iPhone and Pixel users to attach magnetic chargers, power banks, and mounts to their phones without requiring a special case. For Galaxy S26 owners, that convenience appears to be gone unless they buy Samsung’s case. The accessories themselves are unchanged, but the phone’s lack of built-in magnets turns what should be optional protection or style choices into mandatory purchases if you want to use magnetic chargers and power banks.
Samsung built accessories you can’t actually use
Consider the typical buyer journey under this setup: you purchase a Galaxy S26, you see Samsung’s attractive new magnetic charger or power bank, and you buy the accessory. Only then do you discover the accessory won’t function with the phone unless you also buy a compatible magnetic case. That’s an extra cost many buyers won’t expect, and it undermines the convenience that magnetic charging ecosystems are supposed to provide.
This feels especially odd because other major manufacturers have integrated magnets into their phones. Apple introduced MagSafe on iPhone models starting in 2020, and Google added native Qi2 magnets across the Pixel 10 lineup, including foldables. Both companies demonstrated that magnets can be integrated into a flagship smartphone without compromising design or features. Samsung’s reported decision to move magnets into cases makes it the outlier among major vendors, effectively forcing customers to buy additional hardware to use accessories the company itself produces.
Some might argue most people use cases anyway, so this won’t be a problem in practice. While many people do use cases, that shouldn’t be the justification for gating a functionality behind an accessory. Users who prefer an uncovered phone, those who choose ultra-thin cases without room for magnet rings, or buyers who simply don’t want to pay extra should still be able to use magnetic chargers and power banks if the phone supports them natively.
It’s also notable that Samsung apparently considered native magnets at one point. The existence of a full lineup of magnetic chargers and power banks suggests the company once planned phones that would work directly with those accessories. Reports indicate Samsung changed direction after redesigning the Galaxy S26 following the iPhone 17 launch, removing built-in magnets from the phone while keeping the accessories in development. Launching accessories that require a case, alongside phones that lack native support, feels like an inconsistent product strategy and an unnecessary inconvenience for buyers.
Samsung’s decision hands a win to competitors
By requiring a specific case to use Qi2 accessories, Samsung is effectively handing a user-experience advantage to Apple and Google. iPhone and Pixel owners can use any compatible Qi2 accessory without added purchases or special cases. Samsung, meanwhile, is producing accessories that demonstrate the value of native Qi2 magnets but is reportedly choosing not to include those magnets in the phones themselves.
This isn’t just about technical specifications. It’s about how customers are treated. Native magnetic charging is a practical convenience users have come to expect from flagship devices. Google implemented native Qi2 from the start with the Pixel 10, and Apple’s MagSafe ecosystem has been in place for years. Samsung appears to understand the demand — it built the accessories that show what integrated magnets can do — but the current reports suggest the company is not committing to native implementation in the S26.
The Galaxy S26 launch window is still ahead, and Samsung could change course before shipping phones. With the rumored late-February release, there is time for Samsung to revise its plans and restore native Qi2 support. If those leaks hold true, though, buyers may once again face a “Qi2 Ready” marketing line without the real, built-in magnet support that makes magnetic accessories seamless to use. That outcome would be a missed opportunity for Samsung and a frustrating turn for customers who expect the same straightforward convenience other flagship ecosystems now offer.