The Galaxy S26 series looks like it’s stealing from Apple and Google

When Google unveiled the Pixel 10 series in August, the feature I was most excited to see introduced was Qi2 magnetic charging. Since Apple introduced MagSafe on the iPhone back in 2020, I’ve been waiting for the day either Google or Samsung would step up to the plate and deliver a similar feature for Android users. Five years later, Google finally did — with the help of Qi2’s Magnetic Power Profile, which is based on Apple’s MagSafe technology.

While the Pixel 10 series is quite similar to its predecessor, the Pixel 9 series, I wasn’t really bothered by that, mainly because of how game-changing Qi2 is, and Google’s new Pixelsnap accessories. With Google now embracing magnets, out of the big three smartphone brands in the US, only Samsung’s Galaxy series remains without them.

The Galaxy S26 series is expected to debut early next year, and the big question on my mind, and I’m sure many others’, is whether Samsung will follow Google’s lead — and in line with Apple — and finally include magnets in its devices.

Thanks to a new leak on X, courtesy of Sonny Dickson, a tech reviewer and journalist, we might now have our first major hint that Samsung could finally bring Qi2 to the Galaxy S26 series (via Android Authority). The leaked image shows three alleged dummy units for the Galaxy S26 series: the Galaxy S26 Pro, the Galaxy S26 Edge, and the Galaxy S26 Ultra. What immediately caught my eye was the large circular engraving on each device, which is likely for a magnet. You can check out the leaked image below.

Samsung is copying more than just magnets

The Galaxy S26 series might have even more iPhone-inspired design elements

While this is just a leaked image of dummy units, it’s hard not to get excited by the prospect of Qi2 magnetic charging finally coming to the Galaxy series. I was disappointed when Samsung didn’t do it this year with the Galaxy S25 series, but it seems poised to do so next year with the Galaxy S26 series.

If Samsung, for some reason, didn’t include magnets and support Qi2 with the S26 series, I would be shocked. Now that Google has done it with the Pixel 10 series, and Apple has had MagSafe for half a decade, it seems like Samsung has no choice if it wants to keep up (please don’t break my heart, Samsung).

Beyond the circular cutout on the dummy units for the Galaxy S26 series, another noteworthy detail is the camera design differences across each model. The Galaxy S26 Pro (which rumor has it will be similar to the standard S25, with the “Pro” designation added) now features a pill-shaped camera island, resembling the design of the iPhone 16, the upcoming iPhone 17, and the Galaxy Z Fold 7. The Galaxy S26 Ultra could also adopt this pill-shaped island for its cameras.

However, the standout camera design is undoubtedly the S26 Edge, which, based on the leaked dummy unit, could feature a large rectangular camera bar, similar to what is expected on the iPhone 17 Pro, set to be unveiled by Apple on September 9.

So it seems like with the Galaxy S26 series, not only is Samsung copying what Google has done with the Pixel 10 series and magnets, but also what Apple is about to do with the iPhone 17 series. I have to admit, I’m a bit puzzled by what Samsung is potentially doing with the design of the S26 Edge. It looks like it could have a larger camera bar for utterly no reason, and I’m surprised Samsung wouldn’t just follow what it did with the S25 Edge, unless this is a way to make the phone stand out more.

The Galaxy S26 series is still over four months away, assuming Samsung sticks to its typical new-year release cycle, so it’s best to take this leak with a grain of salt. However, I am excited about the possibility of the S26 series featuring magnets, and now that the Pixel 10 series also includes them, it’s hard to imagine Samsung not following suit. Also, as someone who likes the design of Apple’s recent iPhones, I’m not overly upset about Samsung taking inspiration from that either.