Samsung has reportedly scrapped plans for the Galaxy S26 Edge, effectively ending its brief foray into ultra-thin smartphones after dismal sales proved consumers weren’t ready for the compromises. The cancellation comes just weeks after Apple launched its own iPhone Air.According to South Korean outlet NewsPim, the company will discontinue its Edge lineup and return to its traditional three-model strategy for next year’s flagship series: the Galaxy S26, Galaxy S26 Plus, and Galaxy S26 Ultra. The decision follows disappointing sales figures for the Galaxy S25 Edge, which moved just 1.31 million units through August—a fraction of the 8.28 million, 5.05 million, and 12.18 million units sold by the standard S25, S25 Plus, and S25 Ultra respectively.
Thin design couldn’t convince customers over compromises and premium pricing
The Galaxy S25 Edge launched earlier in the year for a premium price tag, beating Apple’s iPhone Air to market by several months with its 5.88mm-thin design. However, the smartphone’s compromises proved fatal: a modest 3,900 mAh battery dwarfed by the S25 Ultra’s 5,000 mAh capacity, no telephoto camera, and pricing that exceeded the more feature-rich S25 Plus.When Apple finally launched the iPhone Air months later, Samsung’s first-mover advantage had reportedly already evaporated amid lukewarm consumer response to the Edge’s trade-offs between thinness and functionality.
Samsung’s Galaxy Edge lineup shelved indefinitely
NewsPim reports that while Samsung has completed Galaxy S26 Edge development, the device will be shelved indefinitely. An unnamed Samsung official told the outlet the slim phone concept is “practically gone,” though a future revival hasn’t been entirely ruled out.Samsung will halt Galaxy S25 Edge production once current inventory clears, refocusing on its proven flagship formula for January 2026.