Samsung’s ultra-slim Galaxy S26 Edge may be facing the chopping block, according to multiple leaks, following disappointing sales. But the technology that made it possible isn’t going anywhere.
SamMobile, NewsPim, and leaker Ice Universe have all indicated that Samsung’s ultra-slim “Edge” smartphone won’t replace the Galaxy S26 Plus and may be cancelled entirely. The device has apparently sold poorly — an issue that first surfaced back in June, when Samsung began aggressively cutting prices on the Galaxy S25 Edge.
The Edge line was likely never meant to be a long-term pillar of Samsung’s lineup. Just as the Galaxy Note Edge introduced new design concepts back in 2014, the Galaxy S25 Edge served as a testbed for new design methods and a way to gauge consumer interest in ultra-thin smartphones.
That consumer interest isn’t materializing — not for the Edge, nor for Apple’s iPhone Air, if we believe sales data. It is a different story for the Galaxy Z Fold 7, which has reportedly broken Samsung’s European sales records and incorporates several of the Edge’s slimming tech.
To make the ultra-slim Galaxy S25 Edge, Samsung miniaturized several internal components and developed a new motherboard design. This included a new mounting system allowing parts to be placed closer together, plus a redesigned heat management structure.
The 200MP camera was also made 10% thinner through what Samsung calls “structural optimization of autofocus and optical image stabilization,” supported by a two-layer housing that reduced sensor height. The result: a Galaxy S25 Edge measuring just 5.2mm thick versus the Galaxy S25 Ultra’s 8.2mm. The same technology made its way into the Fold 7.
The Galaxy S25 Edge served its purpose: a slimmer Samsung Galaxy S26
It wouldn’t be surprising if the upcoming Galaxy S26 series adopts Samsung’s new mounting system and camera redesign to shrink its profile without sacrificing battery life. If the company combines this thin chassis design with its next-generation carbon-silicon battery technology, which can deliver up to 30% more capacity, it could produce the slimmest Galaxy phone yet with the longest battery life ever.
That, perhaps, was always the S25 Edge’s true role in the lineup. I was never fully convinced by Samsung’s official reasoning for the model’s existence. When I asked a Samsung representative at launch, the answer revolved around ‘buyers who want Ultra features in a smaller phone,’ which seemed flimsy at the time.
In reality, strong sales would have been a bonus, potentially allowing the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge to replace the Galaxy S26 Plus model to diversify the lineup. But its real success lies in the hardware innovations it introduced — ones that will quietly shape the next generation of Galaxy devices.
