In a surprising move, Samsung has reportedly revived the Galaxy S26+ for its upcoming flagship lineup. The decision reverses earlier plans to replace the Plus model with the S26 Edge. Reports suggest disappointing sales of the Galaxy S25 Edge this year forced a change in plans.
Galaxy S26+ may live on, if new reports are accurate
According to the Korean media, Samsung is working on a new flagship smartphone internally codenamed “M Plus.” It is expected to be part of the Galaxy S26 lineup, debuting as the S26+. The existing three models bear the codenames M1 (S26 Pro), M2 (S26 Edge), and M3 (S26 Ultra). A parts industry official explained, “Samsung recently added M Plus development tasks as sales of the Galaxy S25 Edge fell short of expectations.”
The Galaxy S25 Edge, released in May 2025, underperformed in the market, prompting Samsung to sharply reduce production in June, just a month after launch. Production forecasts shared with parts suppliers showed planned volumes of only around 300,000 units for the Edge between September and December. In contrast, Samsung produced 500,000 S25+ units and millions of S25 Ultra and regular models.
The underwhelming performance of the S25 Edge made it clear that replacing the Plus with Edge would be risky. Experts note that the Plus model has a significant impact on Samsung’s mobile division revenue, with potential losses of trillions of won if shipment targets are missed. This may explain the renewed focus on developing the S26 Plus, potentially with notable spec differences from the regular model (Pro) to attract consumers.
Additionally, Samsung is reportedly considering using its new Exynos 2600 chipset for Galaxy S26 regular models sold in Europe. The Ultra may still run the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 globally. The decision underscores Samsung’s ongoing strategy to diversify its offerings and optimize performance across different markets. More details should surface ahead of the official launch in early 2026.