Galaxy S26 series leak reveals a surprising downgrade for battery health
Source: Android Authority
TL;DR
- Leaked EU labels indicate the Galaxy S26 series is more energy‑efficient and lasts longer per charge than the S25.
- All models earned an A rating for free‑fall reliability, but only a C rating for repairability.
- The battery‑health rating has dropped to 1,200 charge cycles, down from the Galaxy S25’s 2,000‑cycle standard.
The Samsung Galaxy S26 series is just a day away, and more information continues to surface. A YouTuber has already showcased the Galaxy S26 Ultra’s Privacy Display feature and confirmed some bad news for the S Pen. Now, EU labels for the Galaxy S26 series have leaked, giving us insight into how these phones compare to their predecessors on several key metrics.
Ytechb obtained the EU labels for the Galaxy S26 series, revealing metrics such as energy efficiency, battery endurance per cycle, repairability class, and more.
According to the report, all three Galaxy S26 phones feature A‑class energy efficiency, making them among the most energy‑efficient smartphones. They are also rated A for repeated free‑fall reliability, though their repairability class is a disappointing C—so while dropping your phone won’t always cause critical damage, repairing it will be a bit of a chore.
All three phones have an IP68 rating for dust and water resistance, meaning they are fully dust‑tight and can survive being submerged in up to 3 m of fresh water for at least 30 minutes (manufacturers can exceed this limit, but this is the certification baseline).
The series is rated for 1,200 charge cycles, meaning the battery will drop to 80 % health only after 1,200 cycles.
Battery endurance per cycle
| Model | Battery capacity | EU‑standardized endurance |
|---|---|---|
| Galaxy S26 | 4,175 mAh | 51 hours |
| Galaxy S26 Plus | 4,755 mAh | 55 hours |
| Galaxy S26 Ultra | 4,855 mAh | 55 hours |
How does the Galaxy S26 series compare to the Galaxy S25 series?
If the leaked EU energy labels are accurate, the Galaxy S26 series appears to be much more battery‑efficient than the Galaxy S25 series, especially in terms of endurance per charge.
However, there is a concern: the battery‑health rating seems to be a downgrade. The Galaxy S25 series (and other Samsung phones) were best‑in‑class, with battery health dropping to 80 % only after 2,000 charge cycles. The EU labels are not yet live, so the pre‑release data could be incorrect.
Other ratings (energy efficiency, free‑fall reliability, repairability) remain unchanged year‑on‑year.
We’ll have to wait until tomorrow for the official EU labels to be released. It’s a short wait, but keep an eye on this information if you plan to use the Galaxy S26 series for an extended period.