Galaxy S26 batteries downgrade to 1,200 cycles but run longer than before

EU battery labels for the Samsung Galaxy S26 series show a downgrade to 1,200 charge cycles (80% capacity after 1,200 cycles) for the S26, S26+, and S26 Ultra, down from the S25’s 2,000 cycles; however, EU tests also show improved energy efficiency, with runtimes of about 51 hours for the S26 and 55 hours for the S26+ and S26 Ultra (compared with S25’s ~37–45 hours), suggesting the trade-off may be offset ahead of Galaxy Unpacked.