Galaxy S26 Edge & Ultra: Early Listings Hint at Potential Plus Model Departure
The rumor mill is already churning for Samsung's next big thing. Indeed, early signs of the Galaxy S26 series have surfaced, giving us a tantalizing glimpse into what might be heading our way in early 2026. Listings in the IMEI database point to the existence of both a Galaxy S26 Edge and a Galaxy S26 Ultra, suggesting that the development of these flagship devices is progressing as planned.
The model numbers spotted – SM-S947U for the S26 Edge and SM-S948U/SM-S948N for the S26 Ultra (targeting the US and South Korean markets respectively) – might seem like mere technical details, but they are a valuable confirmation that Samsung is indeed working on these future devices.
However, the real intrigue lies in the early appearance of the Galaxy S26 Edge. This has fueled speculation that Samsung might finally be ready to ditch the "Plus" variant, a move that has been rumored for some time.
To put this in context, the Galaxy S25 Edge launched months after the rest of the S25 lineup, which apparently impacted sales momentum. This early sighting of the S26 Edge suggests that Samsung is keen to avoid repeating that situation. Should the Galaxy S25 Edge not meet Samsung’s targets, the company might backtrack and keep the Plus model in the S26 series instead.
While the IMEI database offers no clues about the internal specifications of these phones, a variety of rumors are already circulating: from speculation around camera configurations for the standard S26, to improvements in battery capacity.
On the software side, it's widely anticipated that the Galaxy S26 series will ship with One UI 8.5. Little is known about this new version of Samsung's Android skin, but the fact that it's a ".5" update suggests it could be a significant upgrade with substantial changes.
As development progresses, we can expect more concrete details about the Galaxy S26 series to emerge. For now, the early appearance of the S26 Edge has given us something to think about – and perhaps a glimpse into the future of Samsung's flagship lineup.
Source: AndroidAuthority