On February 27, Samsung's mobile business R&D and operations head Won-Joon Choi addressed why the company still hasn't built native magnetic (MagSafe/Qi2-style) support into its phones, specifically the just-launched Galaxy S26 series.
In an interview with The Verge, Choi explained that roughly 80-90% of Samsung phone users slap on a case anyway, and magnetic cases are already super popular and widely available. Adding magnets directly into the phone would add thickness and eat into battery space-trade-offs Samsung isn't willing to make right now since most people end up using a case regardless.
Instead, the company prefers to put the magnets in official protective cases, keeping the phone itself slimmer and with as much battery capacity as possible.
That said, Choi didn't completely rule it out for the future. He mentioned Samsung is actively researching ways to integrate magnets without those downsides (no extra bulk, no battery hit). Once they figure that out, it'll likely show up in phones natively.
This lines up with the Galaxy S26 lineup being "Qi2 Ready" for faster wireless charging but still requiring a magnetic case (like Samsung's own ones) for proper snap-on alignment with chargers, wallets, mounts, etc.-just like the previous generation.
Bottom line: Samsung's betting that the case route works fine for the majority, and they're prioritizing thinness/battery life over built-in magnets for now. If you're someone who hates cases or really wants seamless MagSafe-style accessories without extras, this might be a bummer-but the door's open for a change down the line.
