Galaxy S26 Leak Points to 40% Drop in Battery Health Compared to S25

Samsung’s Galaxy S26 series may usher in one of the biggest downgrades a device could have compared with its predecessor. Leaked EU energy labels say the Galaxy S26, S26 Plus, and S26 Ultra batteries are rated for 1,200 charge cycles before they drop to 80% capacity, as reported by YTechB. That's down from the 2,000 cycles listed for the Galaxy S25 series, signifying faster battery degradation and potentially more (and earlier) battery replacements.

On the other hand, the Galaxy S26 series is expected to be more efficient. On Wednesday Samsung announced that the Galaxy S26 would have a 4,300mAh battery, while the S26+ offers 4,900mAh. This could mean the phones could last longer on a single charge, even though their rated cycle life is lower than that of the S25 series.

Samsung has yet to confirm whether the leaked EU energy labels are accurate.