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| According to a media report from South Korea, the Samsung Galaxy S26+ offers little in the way of "Plus" compared to the Galaxy S25 Plus. |
January 13, 2026 – In a move that may temper expectations for Samsung’s upcoming mid-tier flagship, a new supply chain report suggests the much-anticipated Galaxy S26+ will be strikingly similar to the Galaxy S25+ it succeeds. The information, published today by the authoritative South Korean trade publication TheElec, paints a picture of a device born from expediency, offering a modest spec bump rather than a ground-up redesign.
According to the report, which cites industry insiders within Samsung’s supply chain, the 6.66-inch display diagonal of the Galaxy S26+ is just the beginning of its familiar traits. The phone's development cycle has been notably short, a consequence of its role as a very late replacement for a canceled Galaxy S26 Edge model. This has directly influenced its final design and feature set.
"The development of this year's Galaxy S26 Plus... will be a modest upgrade to the Galaxy S25+," the report emphasizes. As a result, the Plus model, slated to enter mass production this very month, is now expected to be a "near-copy" of its predecessor, with only a handful of targeted improvements.
The most significant changes for the S26+ are likely to be found under the hood and on its rear panel. The device is tipped to feature the next-generation chipset, be it the Exynos 2600 in South Korea and potentially other global markets, or the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 in the United States. This will deliver the obligatory performance and efficiency gains. Externally, the camera array is expected to abandon the distinct rings of the S25+ for a more streamlined camera bump housing.
For a deeper dive into the supply chain figures and production timelines, the original report can be found here: TheElec Report Details Galaxy S26 Series Production Plans.
One area seemingly untouched by change is the display. In contrast to the Galaxy S26 Ultra, which is rumored to debut with a new M14 AMOLED panel, and the base Galaxy S26, which may see its screen grow from 6.17 to 6.27 inches, the S26+ is expected to carry over its AMOLED panel "1:1" from the outgoing model.
Further insights from noted leaker Ice Universe align with the scaled-back production for the S26+, suggesting Samsung is placing its biggest bet on the Ultra model. According to related chatter on social media, Samsung is reportedly focusing its production might on the Galaxy S26 Ultra, with plans to manufacture 3.6 million units this month. That figure dwarfs the reported 700,000 units for the Galaxy S26 and just 600,000 for the Galaxy S26+, hinting at the company's confidence in its top-tier offering.
All signs continue to point toward a Galaxy Unpacked event on February 25, 2026, where the entire S26 series is expected to be unveiled. However, consumers, at least in Europe, may need to wait until March 11 for the devices to become widely available. The strategy appears clear: while the S26 Ultra aims to push boundaries, the S26+ is positioned as a reliable, slightly enhanced option for those seeking premium features without the radical—or costly—innovations of the flagship model.