logo
Samsung might kill the Galaxy S26+ in favor of the S26 Edge

Samsung might kill the Galaxy S26+ in favor of the S26 Edge

GSM Arena13-05-2025
Samsung just unveiled the Galaxy S25 Edge a few hours ago, and we already have a rumor about its successor, as apparently there will definitely be one. According to sources in Korea, the Galaxy S26 Edge will launch alongside the Galaxy S26 and Galaxy S26 Ultra.
In case you spotted what's missing, you're not wrong. The rumor says Samsung is currently considering giving up on the Galaxy S26+, as the Plus model has consistently been the worst seller in its flagship line for a few years now.
So, if this gets done, then the Galaxy S26 Edge will basically be the Galaxy S26+'s replacement in the company's roster. If this sounds familiar, it's because Apple is also rumored to replace its very own iPhone Plus model with the iPhone 17 Air, which, just like the Galaxy Edge, banks on thinness as the unique selling point.
All of that said, keep in mind that this is a very early rumor, as Samsung has only just started the development of the S26 family. So, things might still change, and from the wording of the rumor, the company hasn't fully decided on what to do just yet, but is seriously considering axing the S26+ in favor of the S26 Edge. Hopefully the second-generation Edge will use Si/C battery tech to be able to pack in more mAh.
Just to give you an idea of how badly the S25+ is doing, Samsung's current aim is to sell 37.7 million units of the Galaxy S25, S25+, and S25 Ultra combined this year. Of that, the Ultra makes up 17.4 million units, the 'vanilla' S25 13.6 million units, and the S25+ only 6.7 million units. Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge
Source (in Korean)
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

OnePlus 13s faces early screen defect reports, sparking warranty confusion
OnePlus 13s faces early screen defect reports, sparking warranty confusion

Phone Arena

time14 minutes ago

  • Phone Arena

OnePlus 13s faces early screen defect reports, sparking warranty confusion

OnePlus launched the OnePlus 13s in India just last month, and while the phone offers strong specs in a compact size, some early buyers are already reporting screen problems. According to a user post on Reddit, their new OnePlus 13s developed a green line on the display shortly after Reddit user, posting under the name u/blackarrow3839, said that the green line first appeared for a few seconds and then disappeared. However, it returned the next day and stayed visible until the phone was restarted. They even recorded the issue as it they took the phone to a OnePlus service center, the support team reportedly said the video was not acceptable because it didn't show the phone's IMEI number. Instead of offering a replacement, the staff collected system logs and told the customer to wait and monitor the device for a few more days. Green line across the OnePlus 13s. | Image credit — u/blackarrow3839 (via Tech Issues Today) This has understandably caused concern, especially given that OnePlus has a strict 15-day window for product replacements. The Reddit user raised a valid question: what happens if the issue reappears after that deadline? The answer they received, unfortunately, was that there's nothing the company can do due to its OnePlus did introduce a lifetime display warranty in 2024 for green line issues. That should technically allow affected users to get their displays fixed at no cost, though it's clearly not a seamless process. It's especially frustrating to see this kind of defect on a phone that's so new. While display issues like this aren't widespread yet, even a few reports can be enough to raise red flags for potential buyers. For those unfamiliar, the OnePlus 13s is a device that packs a lot into a small package. It's essentially a regional variant of the upcoming OnePlus 13T, featuring a 6.32-inch 1.5K LTPO AMOLED display, a Snapdragon 8 Elite chip, and 12GB of RAM. While it has a smaller 5,850mAh battery compared to the rumored 13T's 6,260mAh, it still offers more capacity than most phones in its size class. The catch? OnePlus has made the 13s exclusive to India for now, with no plans yet to bring it to the US or Europe. That limited reach makes it harder to get a full picture of how widespread the issue might become. While the hardware and specs of the OnePlus 13s remain impressive, this green line issue is something to be watching closely. We hope OnePlus takes steps to improve support for affected users, especially since they already committed to long-term screen coverage.

Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Classic Review: Bezel Dazzle
Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Classic Review: Bezel Dazzle

Phone Arena

time3 hours ago

  • Phone Arena

Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Classic Review: Bezel Dazzle

Samsung releases new smartwatches every summer, but its most beloved ones with a "Classic" design and a rotating bezel only come out once every two years. Well, 2025, is the year when we get the new one — the Galaxy Watch 8 Classic. It brings the familiar elevated style and the addictive click of the physical rotating bezel. Previous Classic editions of the Galaxy Watch came in two sizes, but this year, we only have one, a 46mm version, a bit on the larger side and probably a bit too big for smaller wrists (sorry, ladies). As far as functionality goes, it's the same as the regular Watch 8 model, meaning you get Wear OS 6 with the wonderful addition of the Gemini smart assistant. There are also some new health features like Bedtime Guidance, Running Coach and for the first time on any smartwatch - an antioxidant index. After using it for a few days, we can say that Galaxy Watch 8 Classic feels more refined than ever. Let us explain. $250 off (38%) Samsung announced its latest Galaxy Watch Ultra model, offering improved durability, a better-looking display, and more features. Right now, you can buy the smartwatch for up to $250 off at the Samsung Store. You must provide an eligible trade-in to take advantage. Buy at Samsung $250 off (45%) The Galaxy Watch 8 Classic is also available at the Samsung Store at a pretty steep discount, provided you trade in an eligible device in good condition. Right now, you can save up to $250 with trade-ins. Buy at Samsung $200 off (47%) The Galaxy Watch 8 is here, packing more features and a modern-looking design. The smartwatch is already available at the Samsung Store, and right now, you can save up to $200 with eligible trade-ins. Buy at Samsung Exynos W1000 processor (same as Galaxy Watch 7) 64GB storage Gemini on board Same BioActive sensor as Watch 7 New health metrics like bedtime guidance and antioxidant index New fitness metrics like running coach Same battery life and charging speeds Comes in only one size (46mm) Pricier, now from $500 Table of Contents: Design and Sizes Bands Software Battery and Charging Models and Prices Summary Design & Sizes Last time we got a Galaxy Watch with a rotating bezel it was the Galaxy Watch 6 Classic, and that looked stunning. This new Watch 8 Classic keeps the appeal, but changes the design style. Instead of a round watch, we now get a squircle base with a round watchface above it. The rotating bezel is also a bit thinner, with bigger indentations. We were a bit worried about that new "squircle" shape, but it has grown on us, and honestly, it feels more comfortable wearing the new design and it seems to wobble a bit less on the wrist. Great for runners and cyclists. We already mentioned that it comes in just one, big-gish size: 46mm. The 6 Classic came in a 43mm and 47mm flavors, so the smaller model is missing. This is a good place to also mention the non-Classic Watch 8 model. With no need for a rotating bezel on that model, it's significantly thinner and lighter, so for those who are not absolutely certain they need the bezel, it's worth taking a look at the vanilla version. The benefits of a light-weight watch are under-rated! Sorry, your browser doesn't support embedded videos. The Watch 8 Classic also get a neat upgrade in peak brightness — it can now hit 3,000 nits outdoors in the sun, up from 2,000 nits on previous models. This is on par with the best watches out there and makes seeing the screen on a sunny day much easier. We also get an IP68 rating and 5ATM rating. What does this mean? You can swim with the watch, but diving is not advised. For that, you'd need to go to the Galaxy Watch Ultra, which is even tougher (but heavier too). The Galaxy Watch 7 inherits the band-latch mechanism from the previous model. You have a button that you press to release the strap and then reattach it again. It's simple enough, but if you've trimmed your nails a bit more you might have trouble pressing that button. Good news is that you can still use standard 20mm straps with spring bars. The Watch 7 comes with a selection of new, colorful Ripple bands. We like the attention to detail and loved the provided sporty strap. The green color was nice and not boring with the stitching on the side, plus it seems extra durable. Software & Features Galaxy Watches have been running Wear OS for a while now, but, of course, Samsung couldn't resist adding its own seasoning. Enter One UI Watch, the company's glossy skin on top. Think of it as Wear OS dressed for a night out — slicker and here looks nice, animations are smooth, and the software mostly stays out of your using the Pixel Watch and a few others, we have to mention just how wonderful it is that the Samsung Health app is completely free to use. No asterisks, no monthly subscriptions. Compare that to Google's Fitbit app, which has taken to paywalling useful the real star this year? Gemini. Yes, that Gemini. On your wrist. It's as cool as it sounds, but keep in mind that it will work when your watch is connected to Wi-Fi or LTE. Otherwise, you'll need to drag your phone along for the what can you actually do with Gemini from your wrist? You can ask it questions, anything from "How far to Mars?" to 'What's the best pizza in Philadelphia?' and it will answer right on that lovely round screen you have. One thing to know: it will not whip up custom training plans for you just yet. It's smart, but it has not yet transformed into a personal coach. The Watch 8 Classic has not gotten a new sensor this year (not a surprise), but thanks to the new cushion-y design that hugs your wrist snugly, the data it collects is a little more trustworthy. Better fit, better readings. Who knew?In our tests (consisting of sweaty runs and the occasional brisk walk), heart rate accuracy was solid. Meaning, it was mostly in line with readings we get from an Apple Watch or Garmin's there's the automatic workout detection, which might just be the best we've ever seen on a smartwatch. You start walking and boom — the Watch 8 knows. Hop on a bike, look at your wrist and the workout is already going. It's almost eerie, in a good GPS is still here, as it should be. If you live in a city full of tall signal-scrambling buildings, this is the feature you need. Route accuracy was spot-on in our testing. And let's take a moment to applaud Samsung's workout summaries. All your stats are cleanly laid out, explained like someone actually wanted you to understand them. Nice! The Galaxy Watch 8 Classic has taken up a new hobby: looking into your vascular health while you snooze. It's a feature called vascular load tracking, the idea being to assess the pressure on your arteries over time. With three nights of data it can start sliding your results along a scale based on you, not just some generic average. I consistently landed in the calming green zone, which was reassuring, but a little opaque. It would have been helpful to see a comparison to others experiencing the same kind of mid-life crisis in their early 40s, but real star, though, is Galaxy AI and its new tricks. This year, it brings the coaching tips for sleep. In case you need a replacement for your grandparent reminding you should not scroll until be fair, Samsung's been on its sleep game for a while. Previous models could already track your REM, SpO2, temperature, even snoring (with your phone on the night stand). And from the Watch 7 onward, there's sleep apnea detection too. Sleep reports are in-depth without being overwhelming: sleep stages, apnea red flags and now (most usefulle!) a suggested bedtime window based on your recent patterns. As someone having troubles falling asleep lately, I appreciated this. Samsung, being the innovator it likes to be, has decided that this year it will become your nutritionist by providing you... an antioxidant index. However, it needs your participation. For this test, you need to remove the watch, press your thumb to the sensor, and hold for a few seconds. It's a bit of a comes the result. It slots you into one of three vague categories. But here's the twist: out of five testers, everyone landed in "low." Either we're all woefully lacking in spinach, or the scale's a bit... off. Worse still, try it twice in a row and you might get two different post-scan advice is where I started losing faith in this feature. Basically, you need to check your phone for dietary suggestions, which, amounted to: "eat more veggies." Don't we all know that already? With such vague advice, I doubt many people would bother measuring their antioxidant levels also admits this antioxidant reading hasn't been clinically validated, so think of it less as a diagnosis and more like a nudge from a this rings a bell, it's because Samsung used the same playbook for last year's AGEs index, another flashy acronym aimed to help you understand your biological aging based on lifestyle choices. What it actually measures? Still a bit of a mystery (and do let me know if you know someone who actually measures this regularly). The Watch 8 Classic still keeps the old faithfuls around: ECG, blood pressure monitoring, and the rest. Blood pressure is still a no-show on the competition like Apple Watches, but honestly, if you're serious about tracking it, an actual cuff is still your best bet. The battery in the Galaxy Watch 8 Classic is a bit bigger than before. It's a 445 mAh battery, up from a 425 mAh one on the Watch 6 Classic 47mm. Should we really care about a 5% increase in battery size? It's nice to have, but it does not change the equation in any meaningful way. Compared to the Watch 6 Classic, though, here you get a new and more efficient Samsung W1000 chip, so that should help a bit with efficiency. The battery numbers by Samsung, however, remain unchanged. Both the new and older classic models get the same 30 hours battery life estimate with the always-on option enabled and 40 hours if you turn it off. In other words, you have to charge the Galaxy Watch 8 Classic every single day (okay, day and a half). There are no changes to charging speeds either, which is disappointing considering that the Apple Watch and Pixel Watch both charge faster. And don't even mention the OnePlus Watch 3 series which is lightning fast to charge. In this chapter we have to once again say that the Galaxy Watch 8 Classic only comes in one large 46mm size. There is no small version of this watch (like there used to be for the Watch 6 Classic). Sadly, Samsung has also bumped the price by $100, which is quite a bit for a smartwatch: Galaxy Watch 8 (40mm): $500 Wi-Fi only; $550 for Wi-Fi + Cellular So what exactly did Samsung change with the Galaxy Watch 8 Classic? Apart from a few niche health features, this is mostly about refreshing the design and style, and we think this new design is mostly a success. What we don't quite get is what has justified the steep $100 price increase, bringing the starting price of the Watch 8 Classic to $500. The other annoying detail is the never-changing battery situation on Galaxy smartwatched (really, on most major smartwatches). Having to charge this watch daily is a chore. We could occasionally squeeze a day and a half of use, but two days would be a stretch. We do like the additional third button, we like the style and fit, and we like how smooth and refined Wear OS now feels. And the Watch 8 Classic remains the only watch with such elegance and the convenience of a rotating bezel. You should absolutely get if that's what you're after, we are just not so sure owners of previous Classic watches have much reason to upgrade.

Samsung's Exynos 2600 SoC spotted on Geekbench
Samsung's Exynos 2600 SoC spotted on Geekbench

GSM Arena

time5 hours ago

  • GSM Arena

Samsung's Exynos 2600 SoC spotted on Geekbench

Samsung announced the Exynos 2500 SoC last month, which is used in the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip7 that went on sale yesterday. The Korean brand hasn't revealed anything about the Exynos 2600 SoC yet, but thanks to Geekbench, we know what to expect from Samsung's next flagship chip. A Samsung engineering device with model designation S5E9965 has been spotted on Geekbench with the Exynos 2600 chip. It's a deca-core CPU, similar to the Exynos 2500, but with a different arrangement. We are looking at a 1+3+6 configuration, having a single prime core clocked at 3.55 GHz, three performance cores running at 2.96 GHz, and six efficiency cores operating at a clock frequency of 2.46 GHz. The graphics department is handled by Samsung's Xclipse 960 GPU. The engineering device, powered by the Exynos 2600 SoC, had 12GB of RAM onboard with Android 16. It achieved scores of 2,155 and 7,788 points in Geekbench's single-core and multi-core tests, respectively. In comparison, the Exynos 2500-powered Samsung Galaxy Z Flip7 scored 2,099 and 7,433 points in our Geekbench test, but the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite-powered Samsung Galaxy Z Fold7 scored 2,910 and 9,152 points. Samsung Galaxy Z Flip7 Before you jump to any conclusion, you need to remember that: 1) the Exynos 2600 SoC is still under development and its CPU's clock speeds are unlikely to be final; 2) the final version of the chip that will be used in retail devices will probably have better performance. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold7 Bloomberg reports that Samsung is evaluating the use of both Qualcomm's and its own chips for the Galaxy S26 series, which is expected to arrive next January. We could see Samsung going with the Exynos 2600 for the Galaxy S26, while the unannounced Snapdragon 8 Elite 2 will be used for the Galaxy S26 Ultra and the Galaxy S26 Edge. The latter is said to replace the Plus model in the lineup. Source

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store