Samsung Galaxy S26 Edge: It seems as though Samsung has been distancing itself from the idea of producing ultra-thin smartphones. The tech giant has cancelled the Galaxy S26 Edge series, as it has received a lukewarm response towards thin smartphones in the past year, according to a report from Korea Economic Daily. Although the initial response was positive in the market towards ultra-thin smartphones such as the S25 Edge from Samsung and the iPhone Air from Apple, the major shift in demand has been towards the endurance of batteries, flexible camera options, and a stable processing performance.
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There were rumours earlier about how the Galaxy S26 Edge might launch in place of the S26+, but Samsung is said to be following a more traditional setup now with its Galaxy S26 models. The S25 Edge, while being appreciated for its engineering, had a practical usability issue. The battery life of 3,900 mAh was not sufficient enough if one were a power user, while cutting corners by getting rid of its telephoto lens, all so as to fit into a slim body design.
Apple’s experience in the market with its “iPhone Air” seems to have strengthened Samsung’s stance on whether or not to go ahead with the production of ultra-slim smartphones. Apple has since scaled down the production of “iPhone Air” by approximately “one million” units following diminished consumer interest due to limitations in its batteries and cameras compared to the standard and pro versions of “iPhone”. Apple is less likely to unveil an “iPhone 2026” in the market.
The report further highlights that Samsung has not used silicon-carbon battery technology, a feature used by Chinese brands to pack a larger battery into thinner bodies. Without such technology, making a battery slim causes major compromises to the device. Even a bigger battery has been considered by Samsung to power the upcoming Edge device, but it is not known if it will provide a sufficient remedy to address the battery life issues.
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At the end of the day, this new generation of phones simply shows that consumers are concerned about having reliable battery life, decent cameras, and good performance, and not so much about slimming down the device to the smallest possible thickness. It seems that the likes of Samsung and Apple are shelving the slim flagship for the foreseeable future, and the need for usability has won the day for the year 2026.