Just hours after unveiling the Galaxy S25 Edge, Samsung is already the subject of early speculation regarding its next flagship lineup. According to industry sources in South Korea, the company may eliminate the Galaxy S26+ from its 2026 lineup, replacing it with a new version of the Edge model.
Poor Sales May Be the Reason
Sources familiar with Samsung’s planning process suggest that the Galaxy S26 family will consist of three models: the Galaxy S26, Galaxy S26 Edge, and Galaxy S26 Ultra. The absence of the Plus variant would mark a significant shift in Samsung’s long-standing three-tier flagship strategy.
The potential discontinuation is reportedly driven by sales performance. Internal projections for the Galaxy S25 series show the S25+ trailing significantly behind other models. Samsung aims to sell 37.7 million units of the Galaxy S25 series in total this year, with 17.4 million attributed to the S25 Ultra and 13.6 million to the base S25. The S25+ accounts for only 6.7 million units, making it the least popular option in the lineup.
Galaxy S26 Edge Could Take Its Place
If finalized, the Galaxy S26 Edge would take the position previously held by the Plus model. The Edge branding would emphasize a thinner form factor, possibly accompanied by design and hardware differentiation from the standard and Ultra models. The move would follow a similar strategy reportedly being pursued by Apple, which is expected to replace its iPhone Plus variant with the thinner iPhone 17 Air.
While the core positioning of the Edge model remains under development, early expectations suggest that the device may incorporate a new battery solution. Some reports speculate that Samsung could adopt silicon-carbon (Si/C) battery technology in the second-generation Edge model to address power capacity limitations that come with slimmer designs. This, however, has not been confirmed.
Plans Remain Under Review
Development of the Galaxy S26 series is still in its early stages, and Samsung has not made any final decisions regarding the structure of the lineup. The reported elimination of the Plus model remains under active consideration, and the company may revise its strategy as product planning progresses.
Samsung has not issued a statement on the rumor, and all details remain subject to change.
