Samsung A57 Leak Claims To Outpace Galaxy S26 Charging Speed

Samsung’s next midrange phone could put its flagship lineup to shame on one rumored spec. A new filing in China’s 3C certification database implies the A57 5G could support up to 45W wired charging, and an earlier entry on 3C suggests the base S26 maxes out around 25W — if those listings stand, it would mean a phone with a more modest positioning in Samsung’s lineup could exceed its mainstream S series equivalent at your wall outlet.

Regulatory Clues Suggest 45W On Galaxy A57

The SM-A5760, alleged to be the Galaxy A57 5G, hit 3C, and in its profile it lists support for both 10V/4.5A and 15V/3A, which both fit into a configuration of 45W USB Power Delivery PPS supported by the QC513.

To be clear, 3C listings aren’t confirmations of final retail specs, but they’re a de facto stop for phones headed to China and have aligned with Samsung’s shipping charge codes (the list in China was for the SM-G9800).

There is a caveat that’s simply practical: like most major brands, Samsung does not include a charger in the box anymore. It usually needs a PD PPS adapter and certified cable. Yet the ability counts, particularly for purchasers who value time-to-top-up over other niceties.

Listings Suggest Galaxy S26 Base Model Sticks To 25W Charging

The anticipated Galaxy S26 or S26 Pro (SM-S9420 model) also appeared on 3C with up to 25W wired charging. That dovetails with Samsung’s strategy of late: the base S-series has spent years at 25W, while the “Plus” and “Ultra” tiers have seen stepped up wattage and larger batteries.

There are reasons for restraint. Reduced peak wattage can mean more straightforward thermal management, less strain on lithium-ion cells, and the potential for more predictable longevity — strengths that Samsung’s pushing alongside its promise of multiple years of ensured upgrades to both the OS and security software. But optics do matter, and witnessing a midranger roll huge software numbers bigger than those of a flagship brand is hard to ignore.

What Faster Midrange Charging Translates to in Real Life

On a 5,000mAh typical battery size, an arbitraged 45W system can shave meaningful minutes off the full charge compared with 25W… Lab work on modern Samsung phones shows that the 50% level is often achieved in roughly half an hour, and full charging times run just over one hour for a certified 25W device; but a get-up of some 10 to 15 minutes less applies to fast flop-back time of some three to five more seconds reaching the halfway point, according to these entities. Real-world performance varies depending on ambient temperature, firmware, and charger quality, but if you’re topping up during short stops then the difference is there.

There already exist competitors who lean into bigger numbers. (OnePlus, Xiaomi, and Realme often deliver midrange phones at 67W to 120W, with 0–100 percent times also under 40 minutes in some instances.) By that measure, 45W is not industry leading — yet it would be a great upgrade for Samsung’s value tier, and an interesting contrast with its entry-level flagship.

Why Samsung Could Play It Safe On The Flagship

Fast charging is not a spec in isolation; it’s part of a wider design trade-off. Higher watts require thicker thermal interfaces, tighter power management, and more aggressive charge curves that can harm battery health if not carefully tuned. Keeping the S26 at 25W might be a matter of stability, heat, and longevity in many different regions and usage patterns, not to mention product segmentation that pushes power users to “Plus” and “Ultra.”

There’s also a sustainability message. A lengthening of battery life potentially helps reduce e-waste and is conducive to longer windows between upgrades — an area Samsung has been promoting in line with its extended software support efforts. Groups like Consumer Reports and industry analysts at Counterpoint Research have reported that battery life and the durability of a device’s battery are among the most important considerations people use when they decide to pull the trigger on a new phone, especially as consumers start to pay more attention to how fast their devices charge.

Specs Still Rule the Food Chain Across Both Lineups

Because even if the A57 5G can boast about a charging figure, the S26 should still pack a punch where it matters for premium user experiential quality, including higher-grade processing nodes, better displays and camera pipelines (especially telephoto), more advanced on-device AI features ready to go, and a thermal envelope that will support sustained performance. There are other aspects of design as well. The A-series usually cuts corners in those regards to achieve aggressive price points.

As ever, the details matter. Charging rate is a potential daily quality-of-life upgrade, but it’s just one pillar — alongside battery life, camera quality, software longevity, and silicon efficiency. Shoppers need to consider the total package — not just the wattage.

Bottom Line: A57 May Charge Faster Than Base Galaxy S26

Regulatory filings suggest a midrange Samsung phone with 45W wired charging may be faster than the base Galaxy S26 at 25W, which would be an unusual rank reversal — assuming that those early files are accurate on their face.

Caveats aside, final details could certainly change before these retail units ship, and your mileage will vary depending on the charger and cable you use — but for speed-hungry shoppers, the A57 5G might be the one to keep an eye out for.