For quite some time, we’ve been bombarded with rumors suggesting that Samsung would release a Galaxy S26 Pro as the successor to the Galaxy S25. This speculation seemed almost certain, with various leaks and rumors adding weight to the idea. However, a fresh rumor has just turned everything on its head, claiming that there won’t be a Galaxy S26 Pro after all. Instead, the next flagship from Samsung will be the Galaxy S26, and it will be accompanied by the Galaxy S26+ and Galaxy S26 Ultra, following the usual naming convention that Samsung has adopted in previous years.
The Galaxy S26 Pro was initially rumored to replace the Galaxy S26+, with whispers suggesting that Samsung was planning to discontinue the S26+ altogether. 
However, recent information points in the opposite direction: the Galaxy S26 Edge, initially thought to be replacing the S26+, is now reportedly canceled due to poor sales of its predecessor. Instead, the S26+ will make a return, sitting alongside the Galaxy S26 and Galaxy S26 Ultra.
As you can imagine, these conflicting rumors have left many scratching their heads. Are these just wild speculations, or is there some truth to them? It’s possible that the confusion stems directly from Samsung itself, which may have changed its plans multiple times throughout the development of the S26 series. If this is indeed the case, it’s hard to avoid the conclusion that the company is uncertain about its next steps, which doesn’t exactly inspire confidence in its flagship strategy.
If we take these rumors at face value, the Galaxy S26 will feature the Exynos 2600 chipset in several markets, just like the S26+. Camera specifications are expected to remain the same as the S25, meaning that most of the improvements will come from the hardware, notably a slightly larger 4,300 mAh battery (up from the 4,000 mAh found in the S25). It seems that while Samsung is making some tweaks here and there, the core features might remain relatively unchanged. In the fast-paced world of smartphones, is that enough to justify a new iteration?
Some have speculated that this might be the year Samsung acknowledges that simply changing the name and tweaking the internals isn’t enough to keep their flagships competitive. If the rumors hold any weight, it could indicate that Samsung is taking a different approach with the S26, focusing on improving essential features while sticking with a familiar design. Still, it remains to be seen whether these rumored changes will lead to a product that delivers enough to excite consumers or if the S26 will end up as just another incremental update.