Galaxy S26: Major Changes Expected in Samsung’s Next Flagship

Key Takeaways

1. The Galaxy S26 series will include the Galaxy S26 Edge and Galaxy S26 Ultra, with a standard Galaxy S26 model confirmed.
2. The Plus model has been replaced by the Galaxy S26 Edge, but its absence is not yet definitive as Samsung could introduce it later.
3. The model number for the Galaxy S26 base model has changed from SM-S931 to SM-S942, indicating a shift in the product line.
4. The last digit of the model numbers typically reflects the hierarchy within the Galaxy S series, suggesting potential upgrades for the base model.
5. The absence of the Plus variant may lead Samsung to enhance features in the standard model to maintain competitiveness.

To be honest, the first solid clues about the Galaxy S25’s successors were spotted in the GSMA database back in June. Specifically, the listings for the Galaxy S26 Edge and Galaxy S26 Ultra were identified, but now Samsung has also included the standard Galaxy S26 model. As of July 11, 2025, the following model numbers are confirmed to be in the works:

Notable Changes

This situation is peculiar for a few reasons. The most striking change is the lack of a Plus model, which seems to be swapped out for the Galaxy S26 Edge, as was speculated months ago. Nevertheless, it’s not definite that there will be no Galaxy S26+, since Samsung still has ample time to introduce another version.

Yet, it’s still strange that the database lists the Galaxy S26 Edge without mentioning a Galaxy S26 Plus. Another interesting point is found in the new model numbers. As Erencan Yılmaz from Sammypolice highlights, the last digit of the Galaxy S26 base model number has shifted from 1 to 2. Consequently, the successor to the Galaxy S25 (SM-S931) will have the product number SM-942, instead of SM-S941.

Implications of the Changes

Given that this last digit typically indicates the hierarchy within the Galaxy S series, the flagship Ultra model usually has the number 8. This could suggest that Samsung is gearing up for major enhancements to the base model, possibly to compensate for the missing Plus variant.

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