New Design Details Emerge as Samsung Reverses Course on Flagship Lineup
Just weeks after reports claimed the Galaxy S26 Plus had been shelved, new leaks suggest Samsung’s mid-sized flagship is not only alive but ready for launch in early 2026. Reliable leaker OnLeaks, in collaboration with Android Headlines, has shared the first renders of the upcoming device — a surprising turn for a phone many believed had been replaced by the now-cancelled Galaxy S26 Edge.
The renders reveal a design that stays close to Samsung’s familiar aesthetic while refining key elements. The most notable change lies in the camera module: rather than adopting the full-width camera bar rumored for the Edge, the S26 Plus features a compact island housing three vertically aligned lenses. This smaller setup mirrors earlier leaks for the S26 Ultra and the now-scrapped S26 Pro.
Flagship Lineup in Flux
Samsung’s Galaxy S26 series has undergone multiple internal reshuffles. At one stage, insiders suggested a total redesign featuring an Ultra, Edge, and Pro trio. Now, it seems the company is returning to a more traditional lineup with the S26, S26 Plus, and S26 Ultra. Both the Edge and Pro models reportedly won’t make it to production.
This shift suggests Samsung may be stepping back from its ultra-thin smartphone ambitions that began with the first Edge model earlier this year. According to Android Headlines, the S26 Plus measures 7.35mm thick — about the same as the S25 Plus and significantly thicker than the 5.8mm S25 Edge. The standard S26 is said to come in slightly slimmer at 7.24mm, reinforcing the idea that Samsung is favoring durability and battery life over extreme thinness.
Design Refinement Over Reinvention
The leaked renders show that while the S26 Plus retains Samsung’s clean, premium design language, it incorporates subtle refinements likely aimed at comfort and camera performance. The raised island beneath the lenses gives the rear a more balanced appearance while keeping the design visually distinct from the Ultra model.
Industry analysts believe this approach represents a consolidation phase for Samsung’s smartphone lineup. By reducing fragmentation between models, the company may be streamlining development costs and simplifying its marketing strategy ahead of an increasingly competitive 2026 flagship season.
Edge May Return Under a New Name
For fans of Samsung’s ultra-slim designs, there may still be hope. Dutch outlet Galaxy Club recently reported that a new model codenamed “More Slim” is in development — possibly a successor to the S25 Edge. If accurate, this device could arrive months after the S26 launch, echoing Samsung’s staggered release strategy from previous years.
For now, all signs point to an early 2026 launch for the Galaxy S26 series, with the Plus variant positioned once again as the balanced flagship between the compact standard model and the premium Ultra. Whether the Edge name survives beyond this generation remains to be seen.
