In summary
- Samsung rumoured to launch a Galaxy S26+ after all
- Sluggish Galaxy S25 Edge sales to blame
- Could launch four models again in 2026
Samsung might be planning to release a Samsung Galaxy S26+ smartphone after all, if recent reports from South Korea are to be believed.
We’ve reported on several rumours in recent months asserting that Samsung was ditching its larger Galaxy S model to focus on the super-skinny Galaxy Edge line.
However, a fresh report from TheElec casts doubt on that idea, claiming that a Samsung Galaxy S26+ is indeed in the works. The reason is an interesting, if predictable one.
Plus and Edge, together again
The whole reason behind the ‘no more Plus’ rumour was simple. Models like the Samsung Galaxy S25+ never sold particularly well, and Samsung last year introduced the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge , which seemed to present much of what made the Plus appealing in a super skinny form factor.
Rather than duplicate a not especially hot project, Samsung would double down on the Edge, elevating it from concept to mainline proposition.
The only trouble is that the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge hasn’t sold very well. According to the report, “sluggish sales” for the first Edge (via machine translation) are forcing Samsung to rethink its approach.
Mattias Inghe
A Galaxy of options
Instead, Samsung will apparently repeat this year’s trick by releasing four S26 devices – including both the Galaxy S26 Edge and the Galaxy S26+.
The report claims that sales of the Galaxy S25 Edge plummeted in June, just a month after its release. Lukewarm reception of the phone can’t have helped.
Our Anyron wasn’t exactly bowled over by Samsung’s skinny debut, pointing out the compromises that have been made in the name of a 5.8mm-thick body. The camera isn’t as good as you’d expect from an £1,099 phone, while the battery life is mediocre.
Anyron Copeman / Foundry
One UI 8.5 tipped for AI notifications
In separate news, Samsung’s next major UI update – One UI 8.5 – had been tipped to add a big new feature.
As SamMobile reports, a new One UI 8.5 firmware has leaked, revealing an AI notification summary feature. Much like Apple’s iOS 26, it’ll offer condensed snippets of incoming notification so you can get the gist at a glance.
It’s not functional in this early form as yet, so we’ll have to wait and see how it pans out. Here’s hoping it’s more useful and insightful than Apple’s AI summaries, which can often leave you none-the-wiser as to the message’s contents.
Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge
Author: Jon Mundy, Contributor, Tech Advisor
Jon is a freelance journalist who got his start covering mobile games at the dawn of the App Store. He has since covered everything from smart home tech and laptops to food and culture, but always seems to return to his fascination with smartphones.
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