[News] Samsung Reportedly Revives Plus Model in Galaxy S26 after Weak S25 Edge Sales

While Samsung is expected to unveil its Galaxy S26 lineup in the first quarter of 2026, market rumors have been circulating that the company might be adjusting its plan due to the lackluster sales of Galaxy S25 Edge. According to THE ELEC, Samsung recently kicked off development of the so-called “M Plus” project, internally referring to the S26 Plus.

The report suggests that the company had originally planned to replace the Plus with a slimmer Edge version, but now it appears to have shifted the strategy.

New Galaxy S26 Lineup

According to The ELEC, multiple component suppliers say Samsung is now developing the S26 Plus, potentially expanding the lineup to four models. The series was originally planned in three tiers—M1 (standard), M2 (Edge), and M3 (Ultra)—but the potential return of the Plus adds a new layer, the report notes.

THE ELEC reports that the Galaxy S25 Edge, launched in May, struggled immediately, with production reportedly plunging by June. Given that smartphone sales peak in the first three months, Samsung is believed to have determined by late summer that the model underperformed, the report suggests.

As Gadget Hacks reported, the Galaxy S25 Edge showcased impressive engineering at just 5.8mm thin and 163g, but buyers in 2025 weren’t willing to trade practical features for its sleek design. The report noted that priced at $1,099 for the 256GB model, the Edge launched under seemingly ideal conditions—starting in South Korea on May 26, followed by markets including Singapore where the base model hit S$1,628—yet it still failed to gain traction.

THE ELEC, citing production forecasts Samsung shared with parts suppliers in early September, notes that only about 300,000 Galaxy S25 Edge units were scheduled for Q4, which is lower than the roughly 500,000 units planned for the S25 Plus earlier this year. By comparison, Q4 production for the S25 Ultra was projected at 3.4 million units, while the standard S25 stood at around 2.9 million, the report adds.

Concerns Looming

However, the report questions whether adding a Plus model to the Galaxy S26 will significantly lift overall sales. THE ELEC notes that among the Galaxy S25 lineup, the Plus model had the smallest shipment target at 6.7 million units—and even a shortfall of 1 million could hit Samsung’s mobile revenues hard. Samsung has long sought ways to boost Plus sales, a challenge echoed by Apple, which this year rebranded its iPhone 17 Plus as the slimmer “Air” to reignite demand, the report adds.

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(Photo credit: Samsung)