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Samsung built a clever magnetic power bank for the Galaxy S26. It just didn’t bother putting the magnets in the phone itself.
Samsung
Samsung has launched its first magnetic wireless power bank. Dubbed the Magnet Wireless Battery Pack, the device is specifically designed to address the Galaxy S26’s lack of built-in magnets, a gap that is quite frustrating for users, especially those who prefer wireless charging.
Talking about the power bank’s specifications first, it sports a 5,000 mAh battery that delivers up to 15W wireless or 25W wired charging via USB-C. You can use it to charge two devices at once, but I sincerely don’t recommend doing that, especially if you’re looking for complete recharges rather than quick top-ups.
Samsung
Is the hardware good enough for the price?
The Magnet Wireless Battery Pack features a battery indicator on the front, a built-in kickstand (useful for consuming content or video calls on the go), a slim profile, and a cutout specifically engineered to fit around the Galaxy S26’s camera bump.
Now, despite the premium design and the sleek form factor, there are two things that I don’t like about the device. First, it only has a 5,000 mAh battery, which, factoring in the loss of energy during wireless charging, might not be able to completely charge the S26 Ultra. Second, it costs $64.99, which seems a bit too steep for its capacity.
Despite supporting Qi2 wireless charging speeds, the Galaxy S26, Galaxy S26 Plus, and the Galaxy S26 Ultra do not have the magnetic alignment ring (on their back panel), which helps snap accessories into place (and hold them there for efficient wireless charging).
Samsung
You can’t use the wireless power bank without a magnetic charging case
To unlock Qi2 wireless charging on the Galaxy S26 series, you need to buy a protective case with a magnetic ring (either from Samsung or from a reputable accessory manufacturer). So, to use the new power bank, you’d have to purchase a magnetic protective case. That’s the catch nobody is thrilled about.
Magnetic wireless charging has been around for quite some time. While Apple calls it MagSafe, Google calls it Pixelsnap charging (available on the Pixel 10 series); both are based on the Qi2 standard. The idea is to unlock relatively faster wireless charging (up to 25W) while making sure that the wireless charger or power bank remains in the right place.
For more than five years, Shikhar has consistently simplified developments in the field of consumer tech and presented them…
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