According to SamMobile, Samsung’s upcoming Galaxy A57 has been certified by China’s 3C regulatory agency with model number SM-A5760 and support for 45W wired fast charging. This maintains the same charging speed as its predecessor, the Galaxy A56. Meanwhile, the base Galaxy S26 model is expected to continue with slower charging speeds than its mid-range counterpart. The Galaxy S25+ already supports 45W charging, suggesting the S26+ will maintain this capability. Samsung’s Ultra models, including the upcoming Galaxy S26 Ultra, will also support 45W charging, with unsubstantiated rumors pointing toward a possible 60W upgrade. The company hasn’t confirmed launch timelines for either the flagship or mid-range models.
Samsung’s Charging Conundrum
Here’s the thing that’s genuinely puzzling about Samsung’s approach. They’re creating a situation where someone spending $800+ on a base Galaxy S26 might get slower charging than someone buying a $400 Galaxy A57. And that just feels backwards, doesn’t it? It’s not like 45W charging is some cutting-edge technology that needs to be reserved for premium models – Chinese manufacturers have been offering much faster charging for years at lower price points.
Basically, Samsung seems to be using charging speed as a way to differentiate between their various flagship tiers rather than as a competitive feature against other brands. The Ultra gets the best cameras, the Plus gets larger screens and batteries, and the base model gets… well, it gets to be the entry point. But when your mid-range phones start outperforming your flagships in practical everyday features like charging speed, that strategy starts to look questionable.
The Technical Reality of Fast Charging
Now, let’s talk about what 45W charging actually means in practice. The difference between 25W (what the base S25 currently offers) and 45W isn’t as dramatic as the numbers might suggest. We’re talking about shaving maybe 15-20 minutes off a full charge rather than cutting charging time in half. But psychologically? It matters. Consumers see bigger numbers and assume they’re getting better technology.
And there are legitimate engineering considerations here. Faster charging generates more heat, which can degrade battery health over time. Samsung has always been more conservative than Chinese manufacturers about pushing charging speeds to extreme levels. But that doesn’t explain why they’d give mid-range phones faster charging than their entry-level flagships. It’s one of those business decisions that makes you wonder what the product managers are thinking.
What This Means for Buyers
So if you’re planning your next phone purchase, this creates an interesting dilemma. Do you prioritize the premium materials, better cameras, and faster processors of the Galaxy S series? Or do you go for the better charging speed and significantly lower price of the A series? For power users who need their phone charged quickly between meetings or during short breaks, the A57 might actually be the more practical choice.
Look, Samsung isn’t alone in making these kinds of segmentation decisions. But it’s rare to see a company so openly allow their mid-range products to outperform their flagships in any meaningful way. The certification details from China’s 3C database make this pretty clear – the A57 is sticking with 45W while the base S26 likely won’t. It’s a bold strategy, and I’m curious to see how consumers react when both phones are actually on the market.
