Galaxy S26 Series May Have a Battery Health Downgrade
▼ Summary
– Leaked EU labels indicate the Galaxy S26 series has superior energy efficiency and longer battery endurance per charge compared to the Galaxy S25 series.
– The phones earned an A rating for free-fall reliability but a disappointing C rating for repairability.
– The battery health rating is reportedly 1,200 charge cycles, a significant drop from the S25 series’s 2,000-cycle standard.
– All models feature an IP68 rating for dust and water resistance and A-class energy efficiency.
– The information is based on pre-release labels and its accuracy will be confirmed upon the official launch.
With the official unveiling of the Samsung Galaxy S26 series imminent, newly leaked regulatory labels from the European Union provide a detailed look at the upcoming phones’ performance and durability credentials. These labels suggest the new models will offer significant gains in battery efficiency, though a potential reduction in long-term battery health has raised eyebrows among prospective buyers.
A report from Ytechb details the EU energy labels for the entire Galaxy S26 lineup. The documents indicate all three models, the standard S26, S26 Plus, and S26 Ultra, have achieved an A-class rating for energy efficiency. This places them among the most power-conscious smartphones available. In standardized EU battery endurance tests, the phones reportedly delivered impressive results: the Galaxy S26 lasted 51 hours, while the S26 Plus and S26 Ultra managed 55 hours on their larger cells. This points to a notable improvement in power management over the previous generation.
On the durability front, the series maintains strong ratings. Each phone carries an A rating for repeated free-fall reliability and the familiar IP68 certification for dust and water resistance. However, the repairability score remains a disappointing C class, indicating that while the phones are built to withstand drops, fixing them if they do break will likely be a complex and costly process.
A key point of discussion centers on the battery health specification. The leaked labels state the Galaxy S26 series is rated for 1,200 full charge cycles before the battery capacity diminishes to 80% of its original state. This marks a potential step down from the Galaxy S25 series, which Samsung promoted as maintaining 80% health after 2,000 cycles, a figure that set an industry benchmark. It is crucial to note that these labels are pre-release documents and their accuracy will only be confirmed upon the phones’ official launch.
When compared directly to the Galaxy S25 family, the new series appears to make a trade-off. The efficiency gains are clear, with the S26 models projected to last substantially longer on a single charge despite having similar battery capacities. Yet, the apparent halving of the rated battery life cycle count is a significant development that long-term users will want to consider carefully. All other ratings, including the IP68 and repairability scores, seem consistent year-over-year.
The full picture will come into focus with the official announcement. For consumers planning to keep their device for several years, the confirmed battery health rating will be a critical piece of information to weigh against the phones’ enhanced daily endurance and efficiency.
(Source: Android Authority)
