Will it make a comeback? One member of the Galaxy S26 series might still be introduced

Samsung originally planned to replace the Galaxy S26+ model with the new Galaxy S26 Edge – a phone with a significantly thinner design, which was supposed to be a more interesting alternative to the classic Plus model. However, the Galaxy S25 Edge has been selling worse than expected since June, and Samsung has apparently realized this. According to new information from Korea, the company has restarted the development of the Galaxy S26+, and the S26 series could thus have four models instead of three.

Why did the Edge fail?

The Galaxy S25 Edge was launched in May 2025, several months after the rest of the Galaxy S25 series. It is a thinner variant with a premium build, intended to appeal to customers looking for something between the base S25 and the Ultra model. The problem is that sales have plummeted since June, which, according to the Korean server TheElec, is a warning sign.

Most smartphones sell best in the first three months after launch. If sales decline after just the first month, something is wrong. And Samsung evidently sees this too – the company reportedly planned to produce 500,000 units of the Galaxy S25+ in the fourth quarter, but only 300,000 units of the Galaxy S25 Edge. This suggests that demand for the classic Plus model is significantly higher.

How many are actually sold?

According to available data, Samsung plans total shipments of the Galaxy S25 series at 37.7 million units. The breakdown is as follows:

• Galaxy S25: 13.6 million units
• Galaxy S25+: 6.7 million units
• Galaxy S25 Ultra: 17.4 million units

The Galaxy S25 Edge is not yet included in these figures because it was released later. But if Samsung were to replace the S26+ with the S26 Edge model next year and sell a million fewer units, it would be a significant loss for the company. And Samsung evidently doesn’t want to take that risk.

What does this mean for the Galaxy S26?

According to new information, Samsung has restarted the development of the Galaxy S26+, which means that the S26 series could have four models:

• Galaxy S26 (internal code M0) – base model
• Galaxy S26+ (M Plus) – classic Plus model
• Galaxy S26 Edge (M2) – thinner premium variant
• Galaxy S26 Ultra (M3) – top model

This would mean that Samsung would actually offer four different sizes and design variants, which is more than ever before. The question, however, is whether it makes sense. If the Galaxy S25 Edge is selling poorly, why would the S26 Edge sell better?

Another question is whether Samsung will maintain this long-term. If the Edge continues to sell poorly in the next generation, the company might even cancel it and return to the classic trio of models.

Would you buy a Galaxy S26+ or an S26 Edge?

Source: GSMArena, SamMobile