Samsung faces a real dilemma for its Galaxy S26 launch, which will happen early next year, because its first slim flagship, the Galaxy S25 Edge, has so far performed below expectations. The company had plans to scrap the Galaxy S26 Plus in favor of the Galaxy S26 Edge, making it a total of three devices for 2026. However, the market had other intentions, forcing the manufacturer to go back and commence development of its ‘middle of the pack’ flagship.
Of course, it is never easy to favor one product over the other, but when Samsung’s smartphone sales are lackluster, some belt-tightening is in order. Over here, we discuss that if the company had a choice, which handset would it get rid of to make way for the other, provided Samsung only has room for three flagship releases? If you ask us, we would much rather see the Galaxy S26 Plus over the Galaxy S26 Edge, and we have several reasons to support our claim.
Choosing the Galaxy S26 Plus means Samsung is giving preferences to functionality over form, and sometimes, it is all that is required
Removing the Galaxy S26 Edge means that Samsung can no longer compete with Apple’s iPhone 17 series on an even playing field, but becoming a competitor should not necessarily be the Korean giant’s objective, especially when it means lower sales. On paper, the Galaxy S26 Plus will always trump the sleek flagship in features by sporting an additional camera sensor, plus a bigger battery.
One can argue that the Galaxy S25 Edge’s computational photography improvements are sufficient to sacrifice one camera, but there is only so much that software can accomplish, eventually becoming a bottleneck compared to actual physical hardware present on the Galaxy S26 Plus.
Then again, there are instances where the Galaxy S25 Edge’s 200MP primary sensor has beaten the iPhone 16 Pro’s and iPhone 16 Pro Max’s 5x zoomed shots. As for the battery capacity, unless Samsung fully embraces silicon-carbon technology, there is little incentive to launch the Galaxy S26 Edge.
Galaxy S26 Edge will be more expensive, making it less of an attractive proposition
The Galaxy S25 Plus launched at $999.99, with Samsung expanding its lineup with the Galaxy S25 Edge for $1,099. For $100 more, you obtained a less bulky chassis, gave up a single primary camera, and got a battery whose capacity was 1,000mAh less. For the Galaxy S26 Edge, it is unlikely that Samsung will improve its pricing structure, and if the Galaxy S26 Plus launches at the exact $999.99 figure as its immediate predecessor, Samsung’s 2026 flagship lineup will look more streamlined.
For those who have not yet caught on, we do not favor the company launching four smartphones for its premium family since the new series will appear congested, not to mention that one model’s sales will suffer over the other’s success. In short, Samsung should consolidate its resources and proceed with a three-model release strategy. If you agree with our take, let us know in the comments and also participate in the poll below.
About the author: Omar Sohail is a reporter and analyst for Wccftech's mobile section, specializing in the technology and business of the mobile industry. His expertise lies in the intricate hardware supply chain, covering developments in semiconductor manufacturing, chip lithography, and camera sensor technology.
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