Samsung Might Cancel Base Galaxy S26 as Rivals Turn Up the Heat

After canceling the base Galaxy Tab S10 this year, Samsung might soon axe the base model from its S series flagship smartphone lineup. A reliable industry insider suggests the Galaxy S26 series may only have the Plus and Ultra models. It may be forced to do so by Chinese rivals.

Samsung could cancel the base Galaxy S26 due to stiff competition

Renowned Samsung leaker Ice Universe recently claimed that Chinese firms like Oppo and Vivo are stepping up their game when it comes to compact flagships. Their next-gen offerings are said to bring major camera upgrades, outperforming the Galaxy S24 Ultra in zoom capabilities. Their base models may deliver better zoom cameras than Samsung’s top-of-the-line flagship.

The tipster now suggests the Korean firm cannot them in the compact flagship segment. The base Galaxy S25 already looks defeated as it’s keeping the camera setup mostly unchanged. If anything, the ultrawide camera might be upgraded, but it’s the least used one. The main camera and zoom camera may remain unchanged. Unable to challenge the competition, Samsung may cancel the Galaxy S26 altogether.

If true, the Korean firm looks to be in dire need of a strategic overhaul of its flagship smartphone business. Maybe a leadership change is needed too. The company hasn’t flourished under TM Roh, who took over as the president of Samsung’s mobile division in 2020. Fans have been calling on the company to bring the former head back DJ Koh. He recently joined politics, so we may not see him leading Samsung Mobile again.

That said, the same source previously claimed that the Galaxy S26 could reuse Samsung’s aging 50MP camera, so it may be all speculations based on market conditions. Expect something more concrete after the Galaxy S25 launch early next year. The new flagship lineup will include three models, but whether its successor will, only time will tell.