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Samsung's Galaxy S26 series might go in a new direction without the standard model

By Tsveta Ermenkova

Published: Oct 02, 2024, 3:30 AM

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Samsung

Galaxy S24 | Image credit – PhoneArena

Samsung hasn’t even released the Galaxy S25 series yet, which is expected early next year, but rumors about the Galaxy S26 are already making waves. The latest buzz suggests Samsung could shake things up by dropping one of the phones from the lineup.

Starting with the Galaxy S26 series, the standard model could become history

According to Ice Universe, a well-known tipster for Galaxy news, Samsung might drop the vanilla Galaxy S26 from its lineup. In a post on X, the tipster suggests that, much like the Galaxy Tab S10 series, Samsung could focus solely on the Plus and Ultra models. The reasoning? The base Galaxy S models just aren’t stacking up well against similarly priced smartphones from major Chinese brands.

When OPPO Find X8 is released, you will find that one of the characteristics of the new flagship in 2024 is that it is small and powerful. Chinese brands are much better at making small-sized mobile phones than Samsung and Apple. You will realize that Galaxy S25 is no longer…
— ICE UNIVERSE (@UniverseIce) October 1, 2024

Not long ago, an Oppo rep revealed that the upcoming Oppo Find X8 will be more compact than its predecessor, the Find X7. With a smaller design, it’ll also be lighter and thinner and feature slimmer bezels. Ice Universe points to this device as a prime example of how Chinese brands are crafting compact phones that put the base Galaxy S models at a disadvantage in the market.

Another Chinese brand, vivo, is gearing up to launch its next flagship series, the X200. According to several reports, this lineup will introduce not only the vanilla X200 and the X200 Pro but also a new mini model that promises to be more compact while still delivering the same powerhouse performance as the X200 Pro.

However, competition from China might not be the only thing to consider. Another factor at play could be the availability of the Galaxy S FE models, which provide many of the essential features found in the main Galaxy S devices but at a lower price point. I think it seems a bit redundant to have both a base Galaxy S and a Galaxy S FE, especially with the latest Galaxy S24 FE, where the specs are nearly identical and the price tags are getting alarmingly close.

However, it is still too soon to tell if Samsung will actually drop the standard Galaxy S26. The Galaxy S26 series isn’t set to launch until 2026, which means there is plenty of time for plans to shift before then.

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Tsveta, a passionate technology enthusiast and accomplished playwright, combines her love for mobile technologies and writing to explore and reveal the transformative power of tech. From being an early follower of PhoneArena to relying exclusively on her smartphone for photography, she embraces the immense capabilities of compact devices in our daily lives. With a Journalism degree and an explorative spirit, Tsveta not only provides expert insights into the world of gadgets and smartphones but also shares a unique perspective shaped by her diverse interests in travel, culture, and visual storytelling.