The Samsung Galaxy S25 series from earlier in the year marked the return of the Edge moniker, bringing forth a new design language focusing on thinness and lightness. Regardless of what many might say about slim phones, Samsung seems confident about this decision and will double down on it in 2026.
In fact, with the Galaxy S26 series, Samsung is expected to replace the base variant with the Edge model entirely. The lineup will consequently comprise the S26 Ultra, S26 Pro, and the S26 Edge. While such consolidation could help avoid overlap and cannibalization, it remains to be seen if the gamble will pay off.
Is it a Samsung? Is it an Apple?
As we get closer to the S26 launch date (likely January 2026), additional details of the devices have emerged. Perhaps the biggest one yet comes from OnLeaks in the form of official-looking renders, shared via Android Headlines.
The most notable change is the new camera island. While still housing just two cameras, the bar now extends all the way across the breadth of the Samsung Galaxy S26 Edge. This is the first time we’re seeing Samsung have such a design language, but it’s not an unfamiliar one — the upcoming iPhone 17 series is also expected to move to a similarly large camera bar.
The leak also reiterates that the Samsung Galaxy S26 Edge will be even thinner than its predecessor, at just 5.5mm. For context, the very thin S25 Edge clocked in at 5.8mm. Having said that, the source states that at its thickest (at the camera bump), the S26 Edge will be 10.8mm thick. This makes the design feats less impressive, but it could imply that Samsung will offer bigger camera sensors.
A previous leak indicated that the S26 Edge will sport a bigger 4,200mAh battery as well as support for Qi2 wireless charging via additional magnets at the back. The screen will likely span the same 6.7 inches, marking the end of Samsung’s compact flagships strategy. It should also bring Qualcomm’s latest processor to the West with the Snapdragon 8 Elite 2.
The way things stand now, the Samsung Galaxy S26 Edge and the S26 Pro will be about the same size, but the latter should have more cameras and a bigger battery with faster charging. The S26 Ultra will likely take those a notch even higher. We are sure to learn more about Samsung’s 2026 smartphone lineup in the coming weeks, shedding more light on the Korean giant’s updated strategy.
