Samsung could have ditched the Galaxy S26 Plus, but here we are again

Sales comparison of Galaxy S25 models. | Image credit – Accio

We’ll see soon enough. The Galaxy S26 series is rumored to launch sometime early next year – maybe February, or January, or even March – because, honestly, leaks and reports are all over the place right now. So if you’re confused, trust me, you’re not alone.

Playing it safe – again

This time, Galaxy S26 Plus might launch in Orange, too.

If Samsung really is bringing the Plus back, it probably just wants to play it safe. The Plus might not be a blockbuster, but it’s familiar. It’s a model people recognize. And maybe Samsung thinks that’s better than trying to push something like the Edge, which didn’t exactly catch fire.

Still, I can’t shake the feeling that the Plus doesn’t have much reason to exist anymore. Aside from the bigger screen and battery, there isn’t really anything that sets it apart from the base model. People who want value go for the base Galaxy S model. People who want the best of the best go straight for the Ultra, even if it’s pricier. So where does that leave the Plus? Just sitting awkwardly in the middle, again.

At least for now, leaks suggest the Galaxy S26 Plus won’t be doing anything radically new – aside from a few new colors and a slightly tweaked camera island. Maybe Samsung has more in store, but for now, there’s not enough info to say what the S26 Plus actually brings to the table… other than replacing the underperforming S25 Edge.

What I actually want from the “third model”

If there has to be a third model in every Galaxy or iPhone lineup (although we do have the Pro here), I want it to be something that truly stands out – not just a copy-paste of the regular version with a bigger screen. Give us something fresh. Because right now, these mid-tier flagships always feel like the least exciting option.

Sure, those cost more, but Samsung is famous for its generous trade-in deals and promo discounts, so you can often get an Ultra without breaking the bank. And if that’s the case… what’s the point of settling for “in-between” again?

So yeah, the Galaxy S26 Plus is officially back – but whether it should be is another question entirely. Samsung might just be sticking with what it knows while it figures out its next big thing. But unless the Plus finally brings something genuinely different to the table, I doubt it’ll suddenly become a fan favorite.

Or maybe that’s not the point at all?

The third model will probably always be there. Not because it’s the most needed or has to be the best one, but because it serves a purpose – it subtly pushes you toward either the base or the Pro/Ultra version. You know that pricing trick where something just a bit better than the cheapest option costs almost as much as the best one, making the top-tier look like a smarter deal? That’s not coincidence – it’s psychology. There’s even a name for it: the Decoy Effect.

It’s the same idea you see at Starbucks – the “Grande” that exists mainly to make the “Venti” look like the better deal. Tech companies use that same playbook. Studies on consumer behavior show that when people are given three choices, the middle one often exists just to steer them toward the option the brand actually wants them to pick.

So yeah, my dream version of the third model probably isn’t happening anytime soon.