The Galaxy S9's Most Important Accessory Just Leaked
Samsung's new Galaxy S9 wireless charger has leaked ahead of the accessory's official unveil alongside the new flagship Android phone later this month. However, those hoping for a big improvement in wireless charging performance may be disappointed.
Samsung has long embraced wireless charging with its Android smartphones, and the Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9+ are set to be no different. Although one of the benefits of the wireless charging standards has been cross-compatibility with different charger pads from multiple manufacturers, Samsung's own designs have proved popular for both their speed and design. That's not just of interest to Galaxy buyers, either: any phone, including the iPhone X for example, can use Samsung's Qi-compatible pads.
This new model is a clear riff off of Samsung's current design. Dubbed the Fast Wireless Charger EP-N5100, as leaked by Winfuture, it's slightly flatter and thinner than its predecessor, but still has the same pop-up design. The charger can be used flat, with the pad retracted, or the upper surface can be pushed up and used to prop the Galaxy S9 at an angle. That way, you can still see the screen across your desk while the phone is recharging.
Inside, the new EP-N5100 uses two wireless coils rather than the three in the old version. Only one of them is used at any one time, however. There's a fan underneath which will kick in should the heat of the system get too hot, and a USB-C port on the back for powering the charger itself.
Unfortunately, despite hopes that Samsung would boost the maximum charging potential of the pad, that doesn't appear to be the case. While its input would theoretically permit a total charging capability of 18 watts, Samsung's filing with the FCC for the accessory suggests it'll top out at 15 watts instead. Not slow, certainly, but also no faster than the current model.
It's one of a number of official Samsung accessories that we've seen for the Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9+ in recent weeks. Over the weekend, for example, photos of Samsung's case line-up emerged, including multiple different textures, colors, and finishes. Samsung will cater for the fashion market on the one extreme, with Alcantara covers, and those wanting much more protection at the other end of the scale, with cases designed to military ruggedness specifications.
Last week, meanwhile, Samsung's new DeX Station for the Galaxy S9 leaked. An updated version of the company's docking station, it turns the smartphone into a desktop PC replacement, complete with multiple USB ports and HDMI for hooking up a display. Unlike the first-generation DeX, it holds the Galaxy S9 horizontally: that way, its display can be used as a trackpad.
It'll take advantage of the new Galaxy S9's swifter turn of speed, courtesy of the Snapdragon 845 chipset in the US. Reports have also suggested that Samsung could fit more RAM into its larger Galaxy S9+, too, though as ever we'll only know for sure once the company takes the wraps off the two handsets – and their accessory line-up – at Mobile World Congress. The next Samsung Unpacked takes place on February 25.