In a move both futuristic and mildly extortionate, Samsung unveiled Qi2 charging for the Galaxy S26 and then held out a velvet bag for sacrifices like a particularly tech-savvy volcano god. You can have magnets, speed, and alignment, the company said, but not without letting go of something that once made you feel special.

The process will be managed by a new setup assistant called One UI Sophie’s Choice, which invites users to choose between keeping their ultrasonic fingerprint sensor, reverse wireless charging, or the ability to feel joy while watching battery percentages. It is the first wizard that ends with a grief counseling link.

A spokesperson explained the rationale using a metaphor that definitely passed legal review: the magnets need room, like a carry-on suitcase, and your features are socks. If you want to fit the charger-friendly ring, you must abandon a sock, a pair of socks, or the concept of feet.

Engineers reportedly tested every configuration and found that keeping all features with Qi2 made the phone thicker than a romance novel and warmer than a compost heap. As a compromise, the S26 will offer a choice: water resistance on weekdays or camera stabilization after soup.

Early adopters have reacted with the weary poise of people already deprived of headphones jacks, in-box chargers, expandable storage, and the legal recognition of MST as a real feeling. One user said they were ready to drop Wi-Fi calling on odd-numbered days if it meant never achieving a crooked wireless charge again.

Retail displays now feature an elegant platter of magnetic accessories and a discreet card that reads: choose your farewell. Behind the glass, a rep demonstrates how the phone clings to a ‘Qi2 magnetic nightstand charger’ while your favorite feature quietly unpairs itself and walks into the cloud.

The demo app includes an interactive trash can where you drag a tile labeled Reverse PowerShare, Ultrasonic Fingerprint, UWB Car Key, or the mischievous Bixby I Keep Forgetting To Disable. Each removal triggers confetti, a tasteful chime, and a gentle whisper that says progress tastes like compromise.

Car accessory makers are ready, thundering in with mounts that promise a hold strong enough to survive potholes, corners, and existentialism. Drivers cradle their phones on a ‘MagSafe-compatible car vent mount for Android’, then ask why alignment magnets can find true north but their notification settings cannot find peace.

Developers are already working on emulators to cushion the blow. Lose your fingerprint reader? There’s an app that plays a comforting thump and pretends the camera detected your soul. Drop reverse charging? Your phone will show a tiny cartoon battery waving at your earbuds from afar.

On the spec sheet, Qi2 reads like a vow: faster alignment, better efficiency, fewer tantrums about placement. On the street, it’s the friend who offers you a ride but asks if you can hold the steering wheel and maybe also give up your seatbelt.

Pricing is refreshingly straightforward. Base keeps the headphone jack you already lost and sacrifices an alarm you never used. Plus keeps DeX but surrenders screen-on notifications after sunset. Ultra keeps everything until you tap Enable, at which point it politely un-installs the part of Settings that ever promised you privacy without a footnote that says coming soon.

In the end, the company insists it’s all about choice, and who could argue with a buffet where the crab legs are incredible but you must forget your cousin’s name. Want Qi2 charging on the Galaxy S26? Let go. And if you can’t let go, please place your feature in airplane mode, do not disturb, and step away from the charger.