logo
Samsung is thinking about Galaxy phones with built-in magnets, no wired charging

Samsung is thinking about Galaxy phones with built-in magnets, no wired charging

Eric Zeman / Android Authority
TL;DR An official Samsung survey suggests that the company is thinking about Galaxy phones with built-in Qi 2 magnets.
The survey also hints that these future phones could lack wired charging capabilities.
This news comes as recent Samsung phones require a separate case for MagSafe and general magnetic accessories.
Recent Samsung phones like the Galaxy S25 series support the Qi 2 wireless charging standard but don't have built-in magnets. Instead, these phones require a dedicated case if you want to use magnetic wireless chargers and other accessories.
Now, SammyGuru has spotted an official survey in the Samsung Members app which hints at future Galaxy phones with built-in Qi 2 magnets. We can confirm seeing this survey as well. One of the questions specifically asks users whether they would prefer a phone with built-in magnets even if it made the device thicker. Check out our screenshot below.
Adamya Sharma / Android Authority
Oddly enough, two questions also raise the possibility of Samsung dropping wired charging in favor of wireless charging only. One question asks about the biggest expected inconvenience if a phone only supports wireless charging. Some user concerns anticipated by Samsung include difficulty charging during trips/outings, a slow and frustrating charging experience, difficulty using the phone while it's charging, and heating.
Meanwhile, the other question asks whether Qi 2 support 'like MagSafe' would help offset the loss of wired charging. You can view these screenshots below.
Samsung's survey also asks people a variety of other questions about their phone's USB port and data transfer habits. These questions include how often respondents use their phone's USB port each day, the main reasons why they use the USB port, preferred data transfer methods for various file types, whether people use wired or wireless connections for external displays, and whether wired data transfer functionality is 'essential.'
It's worth noting that questions in a survey don't guarantee that Samsung will integrate Qi 2 magnets into its phones, nor that it will drop wired charging. Nevertheless, it's abundantly clear that the Galaxy maker is thinking about these moves.
Would you give up wired charging for a phone with wireless charging only?
0 votes
Yes, absolutely
NaN %
Yes, but only if the phone had built-in magnets
NaN %
No, I wouldn't give up wired charging at all
NaN %
This survey also comes as brands like OnePlus and OPPO offer cases with magnet support instead of integrating magnets into their phones. In fact, the $500 HMD Skyline remains the only Android phone with built-in magnets for Qi 2 wireless charging.
Got a tip? Talk to us! Email our staff at
Email our staff at news@androidauthority.com . You can stay anonymous or get credit for the info, it's your choice.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Here's how we know the foldable iPhone won't have a creased screen
Here's how we know the foldable iPhone won't have a creased screen

Yahoo

time15 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

Here's how we know the foldable iPhone won't have a creased screen

If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, BGR may receive an affiliate commission. I was dying to see the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Flip 7 in person now that they're official, to check whether they have a crease in the middle of their foldable displays. As a reminder, last year's Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Flip 6 phones (above) still had significant creases. Recent leaks suggested the 2025 models wouldn't just be thinner than their predecessors, the Fold 7 and Flip 7 would also pack crease-free foldable panels. Now that I've seen the two devices, I can tell you they both have visible creases at the hinges. Like the thickness issue, the crease remains a design compromise that Samsung still needs to fix to offer better-looking Fold and Flip phones. Today's Top Deals XGIMI Prime Day deals feature the new MoGo 4 and up to 42% off smart projectors Best deals: Tech, laptops, TVs, and more sales Best Ring Video Doorbell deals But if one leaker's new report is accurate, the key technology that prevents creasing already exists, and it's coming from Samsung Display. Ming-Chi Kuo said in a new post on Medium that Apple has chosen Samsung's solution for eliminating the crease from the iPhone Fold, and Apple will be paying a premium to use that hinge component in its foldable phones. How Apple wants to eliminate the iPhone Fold's crease Kuo, known for his predictions about unreleased Apple hardware, said that Apple picked Samsung Display's crease-free screen design over its own in-house concept. Apple chose Samsung's solution to support volume production of a foldable iPhone in the second half of 2026. Kuo explains that the display's metal plate is the key element that can prevent creasing in a foldable panel. Previous reports said Apple would spare no expense to eliminate the crease in the iPhone Fold. Achieving this would be a major selling point for the iPhone Fold. It would also align with Apple's approach of 'getting it right.' Apple could say it waited to deliver the perfect foldable iPhone design instead of rushing to match what competitors were doing. Kuo notes in his blog that the metal plate disperses and controls bending stress, helping reduce crease formation. 'Because the plate must be closely tailored to the display design, the specification of SDC's crease-free solution for Apple also includes the metal plate designed and manufactured by Fine M-Tec,' a translation of Kuo's post reads. Fine M-Tec will begin shipping display metal plates for the iPhone Fold in the first quarter of 2026. Each plate costs $30 to $35, with Apple planning to order 13 to 15 million units next year. A recent report from Korea said that Samsung would mass-produce the foldable display for the iPhone Fold, though it didn't detail the hinge and crease designs. Samsung will reportedly be the sole supplier for the iPhone Fold panels, which it will manufacture at a facility built specifically for Apple. Kuo also explained how the metal plate inside the iPhone Fold differs from those in Samsung's own foldables: The foldable iPhone's metal-plate specifications exceed those of existing competitors, so unit prices are higher, benefiting Fine M-Tec. [Samsung Display's] current metal-plate process is chemical etching; to meet Apple's stricter crease-free demands, laser drilling will be adopted to create micro-structures that guide stress and further improve crease control. Introducing laser drilling raises the plate price (USD 30–35 versus about USD 20 for etched plates), and the high technical barrier also supports Fine M-Tec's market share. The quote above might also explain why Samsung's Fold 7 and Flip 7 still have creases. Samsung relies on similar tech to reduce creasing but uses a cheaper process to drill the micro holes in the metal plate that manages bending stress. If Kuo's report is accurate, the crease-free display tech Samsung is developing for the iPhone Fold might also show up in future Fold and Flip models from Samsung. That's just speculation for now. How the metal plate works A Samsung Display patent awarded by the USPTO in early 2023 covers technology that helps prevent creasing in a foldable phone. The following image shows the metal plate (ST), which includes two parallel structures (OP) featuring multiple micro holes to aid bending. The close-up of the AA-marked section above follows below, showing the hole pattern in more detail. The metal plate sits between the sheet part (SH) and the hinge (HG). The sheet part rests beneath the display. When the phone bends, the micropunctures allow flexibility while reducing stress on the OLED panel. Once unfolded, the screen should show a minimal crease. That's not to say the iPhone Fold will feature a metal plate identical to the one in these drawings, or that Samsung's foldables use this exact design. Samsung holds similar patents in other jurisdictions with different designs for the punctured plates. Still, these patents show the underlying ideas behind the tech Kuo references, which Apple reportedly selected for the iPhone Fold. We'll have to wait for iPhone Fold teardowns, and maybe a few destructive tests, to get a look at the metal plate that's expected to eliminate creasing. Don't Miss: Today's deals: Nintendo Switch games, $5 smart plugs, $150 Vizio soundbar, $100 Beats Pill speaker, more More Top Deals Memorial Day security camera deals: Reolink's unbeatable sale has prices from $29.98 See the

Made by Pixel event set for August 20 — Pixel 10, Pixel Watch 4 and more
Made by Pixel event set for August 20 — Pixel 10, Pixel Watch 4 and more

Tom's Guide

time42 minutes ago

  • Tom's Guide

Made by Pixel event set for August 20 — Pixel 10, Pixel Watch 4 and more

Google has sent out invitations to its next "Made by Google" hardware event, giving us a firm date for when we can expect to see the next generation of Pixel 10 phones. In addition to the latest flagship phones from Google, this year's launch should also include our first look at a new Pixel Watch 4. The event takes places Wednesday, August 20, where Google says it "introduce the latest to additions to our Pixel portfolio of devices." The invitation doesn't specify what will debut on August 20. But the timing would suggest that the Pixel 10 lineup — which is likely to include the Pixel 10 Pro, Pixel 10 Pro XL, and the Pixel 10 Pro Fold alongside a standard Pixel 10 — would appear. Last year, Google moved its Pixel phone launch up from its traditional October release to the earlier August window and it appears that schedule is here to stay. The Pixel 9a released earlier this year dropped Google's horizontal camera bar, but cases leaks point to the Pixel 10 keeping Google's standard camera design. For the most part, screen sizes should also remain the same as last year models, with the Pixel 10 and 10 Pro both featuring 6.3-inch displays. The Pixel 10 Pro XL is likely to offer a 6.8-inch screen. A recent specs leak revealed an 8-inch inner display and a 6.4-inch cover screen for the Pixel 10 Pro Fold, slightly bigger than last year's Pixel 9 Pro Fold. The big question will be what power these handsets. Likely it will be system-on-chip labeled the Tensor G5, the first chip Google has made entirely from scratch. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. It's been rumored that the G5 will be made at TSMC using its 3nm process, a move away from Samsung which had manufactured the previous Tensor processors. Though recent leakers have claimed that the G5 is "basically TSMC-made version of G4" hinting at 4nm chip, and a prototype SoC was recently leaked with Samsung markings. If Google has made the move to TSMC with its 3nm processor, expect a faster, more efficient chip compared to the Tensor G4. However, it's quite unclear at this moment Beyond that, the Pixel 10s should launch with Android 16, which recently arrived and has already hit current Pixels, bringing a number of unique and exclusive software features. An interface redesign is coming, too. Unlike the Pixel 10 phones, not many rumors have sprouted up around the Pixel Watch 4. That said, there are a few upgrades we believe Google could announce. In April, leaker OnLeaks posted renders of the new watch and unlike the new Galaxy Watch 8, Google seems to be sticking with a similar aesthetic as the Pixel Watch 3. The renders did reveal a slightly thicker 14.3mm watch compared to the Pixel Watch 3 which measures at 12.3mm. It also showed two sizes; 41mm and 45mm with slightly thinner bezels. They also showed a lack of charging pins which suggests that the Pixel Watch 4 will support wireless charging, a feature the Pixel Watch desperately needs even if the Pixel Watch 3 garnered near-perfect ratings in our review. Beyond that, we don't know much else. We can look to Samsung's recent smartwatch releases for hints at what's coming with WearOS and health upgrades, but the Korean company's wearables are different enough that it's not a 1-to-1 comparison. It's possible that Apple could announce other products, but for now, the Pixel 10 family and the Pixel Watch 4 are the only devices we expect to see. Until then we have to wait a month for that August 20 reveal.

What Tariffs? Smartphone Market Grows 1% as More Phones Fold In AI
What Tariffs? Smartphone Market Grows 1% as More Phones Fold In AI

CNET

time42 minutes ago

  • CNET

What Tariffs? Smartphone Market Grows 1% as More Phones Fold In AI

Looks like curiosity about AI may be boosting smartphone sales. Shipments of smartphones increased 1% year over year in the second quarter of 2025, despite tariff volatility and worldwide economic instability, according to new data released from the International Data Corporation. Much of the increase in sales is attributed to midrange devices like Samsung's Galaxy A36 and other smartphones that have started incorporating AI. The report blamed a drop in demand for lower-end devices, including those built around Android OS, for weighing down the smartphone market. However, devices that incorporate AI-enabled features have sparked a curiosity that's lured customers back -- for the right price. "Samsung was able to consolidate its market leadership and outperform the overall market achieving strong growth in the quarter driven by the sales of its new Galaxy A36 and A56 products," Francisco Jeronimo, vice president for client devices at IDC, said in a statement. "These new products introduce AI-enabled features to mid-range devices, which has been effectively used in retail stores to drive sales." Starting at $400, the Galaxy A36 potentially offers a more affordable entry into AI for many people, including AI-powered photo editing tools and Google's Circle to Search. Overall, says CNET mobile expert Mike Sorrentino, Samsung's Galaxy A line, especially its even cheaper $200 model, has been successful at eating into a US phone market that's otherwise dominated by Apple. "Samsung as well as its rival Motorola, with its Moto G series, have put a particular focus on getting the features people are looking for into lower-cost devices," Sorrentino said. "Those devices are often further subsidized by wireless carriers, making them particularly accessible albeit with a two- or three-year commitment to a carrier." A recent CNET survey found that just 11% of people upgrade their phone for AI features. However, the survey also found that price is the biggest driver (62%), meaning a midrange phone with new features could prove to be alluring enough to make the leap.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store