Hold onto your smartphones, everyone – the Samsung Galaxy S26 series is turning heads with a comeback that's got tech enthusiasts buzzing! Just imagine thinking a beloved model was gone for good, only to see it resurface with fresh twists. But here's where the plot thickens, and you might want to stick around to unravel the drama.
Dominic Preston, a seasoned news editor with over ten years in journalism, brings his expertise from stints at Android Police and Tech Advisor to guide us through this unfolding saga.
Fast forward just two months, and what was once considered gospel – that Samsung had axed the mid-sized Galaxy S26 Plus in favor of a sleek Edge variant – has done a complete 180. Rumors now swirl that the Edge has been scrapped, while the Plus is gearing up for an early 2026 release, complete with exciting new renders pieced together from leaked specifications.
Our sneak peek at the S26 Plus originates from trusted leaker OnLeaks, courtesy of Android Headlines (check it out at https://www.androidheadlines.com/samsung-galaxy-s26-plus). For the most part, the design feels reassuringly familiar, echoing the sleek lines we've come to expect from Samsung's flagship lineup. The standout shift, however, lies in the camera island – that's the raised bump on the back where the lenses sit, designed to house advanced photography gear. Unlike the whispers of a full-width camera setup rumored for the now-canceled S26 Edge (as detailed in The Verge's report at https://www.theverge.com/news/772769/samsung-galaxy-s26-edge-render-leak-iphone-17-pro), this leak reveals a compact island perched right beneath the trio of lenses. It's reminiscent of the setups we glimpsed back in September for the S26 Ultra (explored in The Verge at https://www.theverge.com/news/788352/samsung-galaxy-s26-ultra-looks-awful-familiar-in-first-renders) and the S26 Pro (covered at https://www.theverge.com/news/776407/samsungs-galaxy-s26-pro-might-get-a-little-more-screen-real-estate) – two models that, let's face it, are looking increasingly unlikely to hit the shelves.
Samsung's entire S26 lineup has been a whirlwind of changes lately. Initially, insiders were united in predicting a bold overhaul: the iconic Ultra flagship would be flanked by an innovative Edge and a compact Pro. But tradition seems to be reclaiming the spotlight, with the Pro being swapped out for a standard S26 model, and the Edge giving way to the Plus (as reported in The Verge at https://www.theverge.com/news/800570/samsung-may-have-canned-the-s26-edge). And this is the part most people miss – we still have no solid clues if those discarded phones will ever emerge from the shadows.
Dive into the details with this image courtesy of OnLeaks via Android Headlines.
According to Android Headlines, the S26 Plus measures up at 7.35mm thick. For context, that's roughly on par with its predecessor, the S25 Plus (reviewed in The Verge at https://www.theverge.com/reviews/610404/samsung-galaxy-s25-plus-review-screen-battery-camera), and noticeably bulkier than the ultra-slim 5.8mm of the S25 Edge (also dissected in The Verge at https://www.theverge.com/reviews/680383/samsung-galaxy-s25-edge-review-battery-screen). So, this isn't shaping up to be a second-generation featherlight phone disguised as a Plus model. Meanwhile, the site notes (at https://www.androidheadlines.com/samsung-galaxy-s26-specs) that the standard S26 clocks in at 7.24mm – a tad heftier than earlier leaks suggested for the Pro variant. It seems Samsung is stepping back from the razor-thin trend it pioneered with the original Edge earlier this year. But here's where it gets controversial: is Samsung abandoning the ultra-slim design that won so many fans, or is this just a strategic pivot to prioritize durability and battery life? What do you think – a step forward or a disappointing retreat?
That said, there's a glimmer of hope for those craving that wafer-thin elegance. The Dutch fansite Galaxy Club shared last month (at https://www.galaxyclub.nl/samsung/galaxy-s26-edge/) that another Edge model is still in the works, under the codename “More Slim.” Maybe it'll debut a few months after the main lineup, much like the S25 Edge did, or perhaps this signals the final curtain for the Edge series. We'll likely get clearer answers as the S26 unveil approaches, expected in the early part of 2026.
Follow topics and authors from this story to see more like this in your personalized homepage feed and to receive email updates.
- Dominic Preston *
What are your thoughts on Samsung's shifting strategies? Do you miss the ultra-thin Edge phones, or are you excited about a beefier Plus model? Is ditching certain models a bold move or a missed opportunity? Drop your opinions in the comments – let's spark some debate!
