A top case manufacturer may have just revealed the future of Samsung’s flagship. The latest is from Thinborne, with a new Galaxy S26 Ultra case listing suggesting we can expect one that comes with a curved frame and a raised, pill-shaped camera island, the headline upgrade being offered should merit many an Android owner’s anticipation: built-in Qi2 magnetic wireless charging.
The accessory page, which was spotted by longtime Samsung watchers at SammyGuru, chimes with previous whispers of a more ampersand-heavy design language and makes yet more likely the notion that Samsung is going to be using the Qi2 standard and MagSafe-style accessories across its top-end phones.
What The Case Tells Us About The Hardware
Images of the Thinborne case do show a familiar triple-lens setup in a vertical line, but this time enclosed within a single, pill-shaped module. It’s a significant departure from the recent Ultras’ “floating lens” look and probably indicates there’s room for larger sensors, stronger stabilizing hardware, or simply a new-look periscope module.
Dimensions also look tweaked. Case specifications and previous engineering samples point toward a slightly wider footprint with a slimmer midframe, but thicker camera plateau. One leak reportedly pegs the overall thickness, including the camera bump, at up to 12.4 mm compared to an estimated 10 mm on the S25 Ultra, which equals roughly a 24% hike at its thickest section. Expect that to mean less wobble on a desk as you write and more consistent grip around the curved edges.
Qi2 Magnets Signal A Charging And Accessory Shift
Perhaps the most telling clue is a magnetically aligned ring around the inside of the case – unmistakably a nod to Qi2. The standard and certification organisation for wireless charging, the Wireless Power Consortium (WPC), announced Qi2 as an upgrade to Qi with a standardised Magnetic Power Profile that allows a secure connection, more accurate alignment, and baseline wattage certification up to 15W.
For people, this is a turning point. Inlaid magnets unlock a world of magnetic chargers, stands, wallets and car mounts that are built around the same ring geometry. It also decreases heat and charging response degradation due to better alignment. If Samsung plays ball, we might get faster negotiated speeds on certified pads and more third-party compatibility without having to dip into the settings.
And we’ve seen hints of a magnetic ring before on S26 Ultra dummies. The fact that a case maker would base a design around that ring is a good indication that the ecosystem is getting ready for Samsung to embrace the standard throughout the line.
Expected Specifications And The Significance Of A Camera Bump
Outside of chassis and power, the S26 Ultra is expected to come with a brighter and more efficient OLED panel, Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 silicon, and a now-standard 5,000mAh battery – staying on trend for Samsung where it seems content to keep adding efficiencies rather than raw capacity. Industry analysts have repeatedly reported power-savings benefits from successive generations of the panel, and this generation should be no different.
For cameras, leaks suggest the S26 Ultra will have a 200MP primary sensor with a 12MP telephoto at 3x, a 50MP telephoto at 5x and another for ultrawide use. A monolithic island can enhance ruggedness and thermal management, as well as leave engineers with more volume for optical stabilization assemblies. Should Samsung be re-optimizing the periscopic optics, that extra height could be the price of sharper long-range images and better night capture performance.
How accurate case leaks are for predicting phone designs
Case makers typically use pre-production CAD files so that they’ll have accessories on day one, meaning that their leaks are more than educated guesses. Case renders have accurately offered a preview of everything from button placement to camera island geometry for major phones over the past several cycles. However, small tolerances and finishes can evolve between now and launch, so take the details here as educated snapshots rather than definitive confirmation.
What this means for prospective buyers considering the S26 Ultra
If true, the S26 Ultra narrative is beginning to develop: softer edges to make it easier to hold and handle; a more thought-through camera island as an anchor for its photographic aspirations; finally giving in to Qi2 magnets, which would serve as a needed upgrade kicker for wireless charging and accessories. That’s not a combination that rewrites the Ultra formula, but it meaningfully upgrades day-to-day life — from faster, cleaner drops onto a charger to steadier, sharper photos.
That means the details are still up in the air until Samsung makes it all official. But now that one key upgrade and the overall design appear all but locked in, thanks to a top case maker building around a new magnetic ring and reshaped camera unit.