You know that junk drawer. Everyone has one. It’s filled with a tangled mess of white and black cables, half of which don't fit anything you actually own anymore. Well, if the latest chargers news and rumors now are any indication, that drawer is officially entering its retirement phase.
Walking through the halls of CES 2026 in Las Vegas this month felt different. Usually, chargers are the boring side-dish to the main course of giant TVs and transparent laptops. But this year, the "boring" stuff stole the show. We are seeing a massive shift where chargers aren't just "bricks" anymore; they're becoming smart, semi-solid-state, and—thankfully—much faster.
The Qi2.2 Revolution and the iPhone 17 Factor
If you’ve been following the chargers news and rumors now, you probably heard about the Qi2 standard that made magnets cool for Android users. But the big news for early 2026 is Qi2.2.
The Wireless Power Consortium (WPC) basically just kicked things into high gear. While the old MagSafe-style charging topped out around 15W for a long time, the new Qi2.2 standard is pushing that to 25W. That’s a huge deal. It means your wireless charger is finally catching up to the speed of a standard wall plug from a few years ago.
- Apple's Move: The iPhone 17 series, which dropped late last year, is the first to really flex this 25W muscle. Brands like ESR and Belkin just showed off a range of "CryoBoost" and "UltraCharge" pads that can hit 0% to 50% in about 30 minutes. Wirelessly. No cables required.
- Samsung's S26 Leak: Honestly, the most interesting rumor involves the upcoming Galaxy S26. Rumor has it Samsung is ditching its "Qi2 Ready" middle ground and going all-in with built-in magnetic rings. This would fix the annoying S Pen interference issues that plagued the S25 when using magnetic cases. If the leaks from guys like Ice Universe are right, we might see 25W wireless and a jump to 60W wired charging for the S26 Ultra.
It’s about time. Samsung has been stuck at 45W for what feels like a decade while Chinese brands are out here pushing 100W+.
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Solid-State Power Banks are Actually Here
Forget lithium-ion for a second. The phrase on everyone’s lips at the start of 2026 is "semi-solid-state."
Companies like Better Mobile Xperience (BMX) debuted their SolidSafe line recently, and it’s kinda wild. These aren't just smaller; they’re safer. Traditional power banks use a liquid electrolyte that can swell or, in rare and scary cases, catch fire. Semi-solid-state batteries use a stable solid-phase material.
The result? The SolidSafe Air is only 6.8mm thick. That is roughly the thickness of five credit cards stacked together. You can slip a 5,000 mAh battery into your wallet. That’s not a "rumor"—that's a product hitting shelves in Q2 2026.
GaN is No Longer the "New Kid"
Gallium Nitride (GaN) used to be the premium option you'd pay $80 for. Now, it’s basically the baseline.
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GlobalFoundries just signed a huge deal with TSMC to start mass-producing next-gen GaN chips in Vermont. This is huge for the supply chain. It means that by the end of 2026, even the "cheap" chargers you buy at a gas station will likely be GaN-based.
Why should you care? Because GaN 70W chargers are now the size of an old 5W iPhone "cube." I saw an Anker Nano charger recently that fits three USB-C ports into a housing that looks like it belongs on a keychain. It even has a tiny LCD screen that tells you exactly how many watts your phone is pulling.
The Megawatt Reality for EVs
While we're talking about chargers news and rumors now, we can't ignore the cars.
Huawei and several European infrastructure groups just released their 2026 roadmaps, and the keyword is "Megawatt." We are moving past the era of "Fast Charging" into "Ultra-Fast" territory.
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- Nissan's NX8: This SUV just launched with "5C" charging. Basically, it can handle massive amounts of current without melting.
- Wireless Roads: There are pilot programs in Japan (Kashiwa-no-ha Smart City) where the road actually charges the car while you're waiting at a red light. It’s inductive charging, just like your phone, but scaled up to a massive level.
What You Should Actually Buy Right Now
If you're looking to upgrade, don't just grab whatever is on the end-cap at the store. The technology is moving too fast for that.
First, check if your phone supports Qi2 or Qi2.2. If you have an iPhone 15 or newer, you're good for at least 15W. If you're on the iPhone 17, look specifically for those 25W-rated Qi2.2 pads.
Second, stop buying USB-A chargers. It's over. Everything is moving to USB-C Power Delivery (PD). If a charger has a big rectangular USB-A port and costs more than $10, it's outdated tech. Look for "PPS" (Programmable Power Supply) support—it’s what allows a charger to talk to your phone and give it exactly the voltage it needs without overheating the battery.
The Verdict on 2026 Charging Tech
The "universal charger" dream is finally getting real. Between the EU's mandates and the rapid miniaturization of GaN tech, we’re approaching a point where one 140W brick can power your MacBook Pro, your iPad, and your phone simultaneously without breaking a sweat.
We are also seeing a massive push for sustainability. Belkin and Anker are now using upwards of 90% post-consumer recycled plastics for their housings. It’s a nice touch for an industry that used to be defined by "disposable" electronics.
Actionable Next Steps:
- Audit your cables: If you have "skinny" USB-C cables, they likely only support 60W. If you want to fast-charge a laptop, look for cables labeled E-Marker 240W.
- Wait for February: If you're a Samsung fan, wait for the Unpacked event on February 25, 2026. The rumors about the S26 Ultra's 60W wired speeds are looking very likely, and you'll want the official 60W PPS brick to make it work.
- Check for Qi2.2: When buying a wireless pad this year, don't settle for "Qi-Compatible." Ensure it specifically says Qi2.2 to future-proof yourself for the 25W standard.
The "cable chaos" is ending. We're moving toward a world where charging is invisible, built into our desks, our cars, and even our wallets.