With the launch of the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Flip 7 just around the corner, Samsung is now shifting its focus to the highly anticipated Galaxy S26 series. Two variants of the device, the Galaxy S26 Ultra and the Galaxy S26 Edge, have recently been spotted in the IMEI database, confirming that development is progressing smoothly. According to SammyPolice, the Galaxy S26 Edge model has been listed with the model number SM-S947U, while the Galaxy S26 Ultra variants carry the numbers SM-S948U and SM-S948N.
The “U” suffix denotes models intended for the US market, while “N” refers to the South Korean version.
It’s not surprising to see the Ultra variant make an early appearance, but the inclusion of the Edge variant has raised eyebrows. This supports rumors suggesting that Samsung may discontinue the Plus model, especially given the quick turnaround between the launch of the Galaxy S25 Edge and its successor. With the S25 Edge being released just a month ago, the emergence of the S26 Edge variant in development signals that the Plus model could be axed sooner than expected.
However, despite these rumors, there’s still a chance the Galaxy S26 Plus will remain in the lineup. It’s possible that Samsung may simply accelerate the launch of the Galaxy S26 Edge as a replacement. As for the specs, the Galaxy S26 series is rumored to be powered by either the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite 2 or Samsung’s Exynos 2600, depending on the region. Although some reports had hinted at an earlier release, the recent IMEI certification suggests the timeline is on track. This is consistent with the launch schedule of the Galaxy S25 Ultra, which was also seen in the IMEI database around the same time last year.
While no significant changes are expected for Samsung’s flagship devices, there are a few noteworthy rumors. It’s speculated that the Galaxy S26 Ultra may retain the same 5,000mAh battery, although the S Pen slot could be removed. The base Galaxy S26 model is expected to feature a new ISOCELL GN camera sensor, while all models may come with 16GB of RAM. Additionally, there’s speculation that the new series could feature Perplexity AI.
At the moment, Samsung seems to be focusing on steady improvements rather than radical changes for its next generation of smartphones, but the upcoming launch is still expected to bring plenty of surprises.