Samsung Galaxy S26 Edge: All the rumors so far

Samsung shook up its flagship phone lineup this past year by introducing the Galaxy S25 Edge, a device that earned plaudits for its thin-and-light design while still offering the kind of premium features you'd expect from a high-end handset. So what will the Galaxy S26 Edge do for an encore?

Early rumors have teased a redesign for the look of Samsung's phone, which could get even thinner than the first version. We've also heard about possible improvements to the battery size and ultrawide camera, as Samsung looks to respond to the iPhone Air, Apple's attempt at a slender phone. In fact, by our reckoning after an iPhone Air vs. Galaxy S25 Edge face-off, Apple actually makes the better thin phone.

Of course, there are also dueling rumors about Samsung's Edge plans, with some contending that the phone maker is dropping efforts to build a Galaxy S26 Edge due to poor sales for the current model.

So what's the reality? We really won't know for certain until early next year when Samsung holds its first Galaxy Unpacked event of the year. But we can go through all the rumors about the Galaxy S26 Edge — including the ones that claim that this model has been put on ice.

Samsung Galaxy S26 Edge: Will it happen?

The Galaxy S25 Edge made its debut as an extension of the Galaxy S series. But one rumor argues that the follow-up may take the place of another long-standing member of the flagship family.

Multiple reports claim that the Galaxy S26 Edge was going to take the place of the Galaxy S Plus model in Samsung's 2026 smartphone lineup. It's certainly a move that makes sense — the Galaxy S25 Edge and Galaxy S25 Plus share many features including a 6.7-inch display. The two phones cost about the same, too, though the Edge does cost $100 more than $999 Plus.

It's undeniable that recent Galaxy S Plus models have struggled to stand out in Samsung's lineup, as the phone is essentially just a bigger-screen version of the standard Galaxy S flagship. The Edge would offer a few more premium features, plus that thinner design to go with the large screen that Plus customers demand.

But before we bid Samsung's Plus model farewell, we might have to save those adieus for the Edge. A report out of South Korea claims that sales of the Galaxy S25 Edge have been so slow that Samsung has dropped development of the S26 Edge. And well-known leaker Ice Universe posts that the Galaxy S26 Edge is "definitely gone."

Leaker Yogesh Brar believes next year's Galaxy S26 lineup will feature a standard model, a Plus version and the Ultra phone — in other words, the same models that make up the Galaxy S25 lineup. That would leave a Galaxy S26 Edge out in the cold.

It's possible that reports of the Edge's demise may be premature, though. A follow-up report from Galaxy Club claims that work is continuing on the Galaxy S26 Edge, with plans to make the new version even slimmer than its predecessor.

For now, we'll cover the other reports that have surfaced about the Galaxy S26 Edge, while we keep an ear out for additional details on what Samsung's 2026 lineup might look like.

Samsung Galaxy S26 Edge: Rumored release date and price

Assuming the Galaxy S26 Edge turns out to exist, either as a standalone phone or as a replacement for the Galaxy S26 Plus, you'd expect the phone to debut alongside Samsung's other Galaxy S26 models. This would be a departure from how Samsung handled the Galaxy S25 Edge's launch. That phone received a teaser at the January launch event for the rest of the Galaxy S25 lineup. The S25 Edge didn't get its own release until May.

The last few Galaxy Unpacked events introducing the latest Galaxy S models have taken place in January. Initially, we thought that the 2026 release would follow suit, but Galaxy S26 release rumors claim the launch could be pushed back to March. Of course, the reason given for that rumored delay is Samsung revising its launch plans to feature a Plus model instead of the Galaxy S26 Edge, so who really knows at this point?

For what it's worth, a Korean publication says that Galaxy Unpacked is happening February 25. If accurate, that would mean a March release date for the new phones, which may or may not still include the Edge at this point.

Again assuming it's all systems-go for the Galaxy S26 Edge, it's unclear what Samsung would charge for the new model. The $1,099 starting price of the Galaxy S25 Edge seems like a good guide.

Samsung Galaxy S26 Edge: Design and display

At 5.8mm thin, the Galaxy S25 Edge cuts a slender profile. But Samsung seems to think it can make an even thiner phone.

Before they were declaring the S26 Edge DOA, leaker Ice Universe has reproted that the Galaxy S26 Edge will shed 0.3mm off its predecessors thickness, giving it a 5.5mm-thin frame. That would beat the iPhone 17 Air's 5.6mm profile, though it still wouldn't be as thin as the Galaxy Z Fold 7 is when that Samsung phone is unfolded.

Along with a thinner profile, Samsung may introduce a new look for the Galaxy S26 Edge that actually mirrors the design Apple just launched with its iPhone 17 Pro models. Basically, the camera array on the back of the phone would be extended horizontally. Such a design would allow Samsung to shift around components, leaving more room for things like a bigger battery.

Android Headlines has published alleged CADs of the Galaxy S26 Edge, with the help of leaker OnLeakers.

We haven't heard any rumors about the Galaxy S26 Edge display, making us think that Samsung will keep the 6.7-inch panel in place. The Galaxy S25 Edge hit a peak brightness of 1,997 nits when we measure it with a light meter. That's pretty bright, but phone makers seem to be focused on boosting brightness as of late, so we could see an improvement there.

A report that leaked after people started asserting that Samsung was dropping plans for a new Edge claimed the phone maker actually had two models in the works, with the second one being an even thinner version sporting a 6.6-inch display. It's unclear if work is continuing on that version at this point.

There's talk of the Galaxy S26 Ultra adopting anti-reflective glass to cut down on the glare from its screen. It's unclear if that feature will find its way to the Galaxy S26 Edge, but that's a development worth keeping an eye on.

Samsung Galaxy S26 Edge: Cameras

For the Galaxy S25 Edge, Samsung turned to the same 200MP main sensor featured on its Galaxy S25 Ultra flagship. That's likely to remain in place for the next version of the Edge, though Samsung could increase the aperture of the main camera to let in more light. That improvement happens to be rumored for the Galaxy S26 Ultra, so it could effect the next version of the Edge, too.

Otherwise, we'd expect a similar two-lens setup on the back of the Galaxy S26 Edge. With Samsung looking for ways to make the next version of this phone even thinner, finding space for a telephoto lens to go with the current main and ultrawide cameras seems like a low priority for the phone maker. That said, the rumored second Edge model that popped up in one leak report was said to have a zoom lens.

There had been reports that the ultrawide camera on the Galaxy S26 Edge could see a megapixel upgrade, with a 50MP sensor replacing the current 12MP shooter.

Samsung Galaxy S26 Edge: Performance and software

Every new Samsung phone launch seems to trigger some sort of Snapdragon-or-Exynos debate over whether the phone maker will use Qualcomm's silicon or its own chipsets. Leaked Geekbench test results may have tipped Samsung's hand in regard to the Galaxy S26 Edge.

Specifically, a phone with the Galaxy S26 Edge model number has been spotted in the database of Geekbench results for Qualcomm's next-generation system-on chip. That device, which sported 12GB of RAM, posted single-core and multicore scores of 3,393 and 11,515, respectively. For context, the Snapdragon 8 Elite-powered Galaxy S25 Edge had respective scores of 3,129 and 9,916 on those CPU tests.

Since that report came out, Qualcomm has announced the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5. And based on our benchmarks of a Qualcomm reference device powered by the new chipset, those numbers are in line with what we've seen.

Galaxy AI figures to be an important part of the Galaxy S26 story, given Samsung's ongoing push into AI-powered features. The Galaxy S25 Edge supported all of the same capabilities introduced with the rest of the Galaxy S25 series, and you'd expect that to continue with the S26 phones.

There could be more kinds of AI features on the S26 models, though. Choi Won-Joon, president and COO of Samsung's mobile division, has confirmed that the company is talking to multiple vendors about adding their AI services to the S26 series.

Samsung Galaxy S26 Edge: Battery life and charging

If there's one consistent complaint about the Galaxy S25 Edge, it comes down to the phone's battery life. While the S25 Edge performed well enough on our battery test, it fell short of the kind of longevity other Samsung flagships provide — a by-product of the smaller battery Samsung is forced to use in its thin phone.

But Samsung could be taking steps to change that with the Galaxy S26 Edge. A Galaxy Club report claims that the new phone would feature a 4,200 mAh battery, a step up from the 3,900 mAh power pack in the current model. Other reports claim the battery would be 4,300 mAh. That increased cell, plus any power efficiency gains from the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, should help the Galaxy S26 Edge improve its staying power.

Samsung Galaxy S26 Edge: Outlook

The Galaxy S25 Edge pointed at a brand new direction for Samsung's flagships, so we'll be disappointed if reports that Samsung is dropping the model from its lineup prove to be true. From the initial rumors we've heard so far, it sounds like the Galaxy S26 Edge will be a step forward — if it actually comes to pass.

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