Kerry Wan/ZDNET
The Galaxy S25 Edge was my unexpected favorite phone in Samsung's S-series lineup this year. I previously wrote about how it had one major fault, but is the compact phone for content consumption in 2025. It just might not make sense to exist alongside the Plus model with the adoption of silicon-carbon batteries -- and Samsung might agree.
Also: Samsung's ultra-thin Galaxy phone is a greatly misunderstood device - and I shamelessly love it
According to a new report from The Elec, Samsung could replace its Plus model with the Edge in Galaxy S26 series next year. Like 2025, all three flagship phones will have different screen sizes: a 6.27-inch Galaxy S26 and a 6.89-inch Galaxy S26 Ultra alongside a 6.66-inch Galaxy S26 Edge.
The Galaxy S25 Edge's single flaw
Prakhar Khanna/ZDNET
I wasn't expecting to be so pleasantly surprised by the Galaxy S25 Edge, but its in-hand feel turned out to be unparalleled. I love having a 6.7-inch display in a 163-gram body. For context, that's just one gram heavier than the smaller, 6.2-inch Galaxy S25. The 5.8mm thickness also makes the flat sides comfortable to hold, unlike the Galaxy S25 Ultra, which is less ergonomic.
I love the Galaxy S25 Edge because I can scroll through feeds of information, stream videos and consume without the burden of wrist or finger strain on a 6.7-inch QHD+ AMOLED screen.
Also: I've tested every Samsung Galaxy S25 model - and my favorite isn't the Ultra
Unfortunately, I couldn't use my Galaxy S25 Edge as a daily driver because of its middling battery life. The 3,900mAh cell just isn't enough to power a 6.7-inch Android phone, and I hope Samsung can improve it before replacing its Plus model next year.
It just might be in the cards. According to an earlier Bloomberg a report, Apple and Samsung battery supplier TDK is ahead of its September schedule to deliver its third iteration of silicon-anode batteries. This could indicate Samsung is using the latest-gen battery tech to power its next S-series lineup. If it does, I expect the Galaxy S26 Edge to feature at least a 4,500mAh battery -- more than the latest-gen Samsung foldables.
Why the replacement makes sense
Kerry Wan/ZDNET
It makes sense for Samsung to replace its Plus model with the Edge because they have the same screen size, but the Edge variant is packed in a form factor that weighs as much as the regular Galaxy S25.
Sure, you lose out on one camera, but I'm fine with skipping out on an average telephoto camera in favor of the same 200MP main camera as the Ultra model and paired with an ultrawide-angle sensor.
Also: I changed 7 Samsung phone settings to significantly improve the battery life
Moreover, the Plus model seems to sell the least out of the three models, just like Apple. Similarly, that company is also rumored to replace its Plus model with a slim iPhone 17 Air later this year.
The one thing I'm not looking forward to, however, is the inevitable price bump this strategy would attract. The Galaxy S25 Plus is cheaper than the S25 Edge right now. If it were to replace the next Plus model, however, Samsung could position the base Galaxy S26 $100 higher, thus moving the flagship S-series up the price ladder. As much as I want the Edge series to survive, I hope it isn't priced out of contention for most people.