Samsung’s highly anticipated 2026 flagship smartphone collection might just see the return of the Galaxy S26+. This comes as a surprising turn, as earlier rumors suggested the South Korean tech giant was planning to launch its S26 series early next year with just three models: the Galaxy S26 Pro, Galaxy S26 Edge, and Galaxy S26 Ultra. The popular Plus variant was expected to be replaced by a sleek, ultra-slim Edge model. However, it appears the current Galaxy S25 Edge hasn’t performed as well as Samsung had hoped, leading to the revival of the Galaxy S26+ project.
The Galaxy S26+ Makes an Unexpected Comeback
According to industry insiders cited by the South Korean publication The Elec, Samsung has recently commenced development on an S-series smartphone internally codenamed ‘M Plus,’ widely believed to be the forthcoming Galaxy S26+. This model was previously rumored to be cut from the company’s 2026 lineup, with only the Galaxy S26 Pro (M1), Galaxy S26 Edge (M2), and Galaxy S26 Ultra (M3) slated for development.
Since the M1, M2, and M3 models are still in their early development stages, Samsung retains the flexibility to adjust the number of devices in its upcoming flagship series. This means there’s a strong possibility that the Galaxy S26 lineup in 2026 could feature four distinct handsets.
The primary reason for this change of heart is attributed to the lackluster sales performance of the Galaxy S25 Edge. Launched earlier this year as an ultra-slim contender against Apple’s new iPhone Air, the S25 Edge’s production volume for the September to December 2025 period was reportedly a modest 300,000 units. In stark contrast, the Galaxy S25 Ultra and the standard Galaxy S25 saw estimated production volumes of approximately 3.4 million and 2.9 million units, respectively, during the same timeframe.
Following its initial three months on the market, Samsung reportedly assessed the demand for its ultra-slim device and adjusted its production plans accordingly. An industry official further revealed that the company was developing four types of organic OLED panels for the Galaxy S26 series, though at the time, it was uncertain whether the Edge would ultimately replace the Plus model.
It’s worth noting that even Samsung’s traditional Galaxy S Plus models haven’t consistently been the highest sellers within their respective lineups. For instance, the Galaxy S25 Plus had a shipment target of 6.7 million units, the lowest among its series. The standard Galaxy S25 aimed for 13.6 million units, while the Galaxy S25 Ultra led with expectations of 17.4 million units.
Samsung had been exploring strategies to boost sales of its Plus models, which reportedly led to the initial plan of replacing them with the Galaxy S26 Edge in 2026. This approach mirrors Apple’s recent strategy with its latest iPhone 17 series, where a new iPhone Air model replaced a low-selling Plus variant in their lineup.
Furthermore, the publication mentioned that Samsung is considering equipping the standard Galaxy S26 model destined for European markets with its Exynos 2600 processor. If this proves accurate, it would represent a significant departure from the current strategy, where all handsets in the lineup are powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite SoC.