If Slim’s the Goal, Samsung Should Launch OG S25 Edge as Galaxy S26+

Samsung’s 2026 flagship lineup may not look exactly like what early leaks suggested. Reports now claim that the company has canceled the Galaxy S26 Edge, while the rumored Galaxy S26 Pro could instead launch simply as the Galaxy S26. Meanwhile, a familiar name may be making a comeback — the Galaxy S26+. The Plus model recently entered development, hinting that Samsung could be sticking to its traditional strategy after all.

If Samsung doesn’t release an Edge flagship in 2026, it could mark one of the shortest-lived smartphone experiments in the company’s history. The Galaxy S25 Edge would stand as the only model of its kind. The device failed not because of poor design, but because of what it sacrificed for thinness.

While the S25 Edge’s design was undeniably stunning, Samsung compromised on key features to achieve that ultra-slim 5.8mm profile. Despite its premium price, the phone lacked a telephoto zoom camera and a decent-sized battery, limiting its appeal among flagship buyers. That weak foundation effectively killed any market potential for an S26 Edge before the device even entered production.

But there’s an interesting twist — before launching the slim S25 Edge in May, Samsung tested a thicker 6.4mm prototype. More importantly, that prototype included three cameras, complete with a dedicated zoom lens. Could Samsung now be planning to revive that design as the Galaxy S26+ next year? It certainly seems possible, and it might just be the redemption arc the Edge concept needs.

A “Slim+” formula could fix the S25 Edge’s flaws

Samsung originally planned a 6.4mm-thick Galaxy S25 Edge, which would have been 0.8mm thinner than the standard Galaxy S25’s 7.2mm profile. The prototype in testing packed a 200MP main camera, an ultrawide lens, and a telephoto zoom unit, along with a large 6.7–6.8-inch display, suggesting it would also house a sizeable battery.

On paper, it sounded like the ideal “slim flagship” — sleek yet uncompromised. But in its quest to undercut Apple, Samsung took things too far. The company ultimately launched the 5.8mm Galaxy S25 Edge, a thinner but heavily compromised version that ditched the zoom camera and battery capacity to chase bragging rights. Ironically, Apple still managed to debut an even slimmer iPhone Air at 5.6mm, making Samsung’s gamble feel both unnecessary and costly.

Reintroducing the Galaxy S26+ as a refined version of the “original” Galaxy S25 Edge would allow Samsung to fill a key gap in its lineup — a premium slim flagship that doesn’t compromise on performance or cameras. Given the lukewarm reception to the S25 Edge, this move would give the concept a second chance under a more conventional branding strategy.

If true, the Galaxy S26+ could embody the best of both worlds: the design elegance of the Edge and the practical versatility of a Plus model. Samsung is expected to unveil the Galaxy S26 series in early 2026, and as development continues, more details about this reimagined model are likely to emerge.