Samsung Galaxy S26 leak just revealed huge shakeup — this model now looks dead
The Elec posted an article today (July 14) saying that next year Samsung will release a 6.27-inch base model, a 6.66-inch Edge, and a 6.89-inch Ultra phone. That would seem to spell the end of the Plus model in Samsung's Galaxy S lineup.
This isn't exactly a new rumor, and The Elec isn't the only place reporting this rumor today. Regular tipster Instant Digital posted (via MacRumors) on the Chinese site Weibo that the S26 lineup would consist of the S26, S26 Edge and S26 Ultra.
Ever since rumors emerged about Samsung producing an Edge-style phone, it's been assumed that the ultra-thin phone was likely to replace the Plus model.
The move would make each S series phone a distinct model, rather than the Plus just being larger version of the base model. Beyond thinness, both the S25 Edge the S25 Plus have a lot in common between a 6.7-inch display, 50-megapixel main camera and a Snapdragon 8 Elite chip. That said, the Edge has more of a premium feel with its titanium chassis and ultra-thin design.
As for the rumored display sizes, The Elec's numbers point to similar displays as the S25 series For comparison, that is a slightly larger display on the S26 base model, with the Galaxy S25 having a 6.2-inch screen. The S26 Ultra is about the same size as the Galaxy S25 Ultra which we have listed at 6.9-inches.
The rumored 6.66-inch Edge display is the same as the current Galaxy S25 Edge. Currently, the Galaxy S25 Plus features a 6.7-inch screen.
Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips.
It's been rumored that Apple and Samsung are following similar paths with their lineups.
Most Apple observers assume the company will replace its Plus model with the much-rumored iPhone 17 Air later this year. That would make this year's coming lineup the iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Air, 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max. Current leaks paint a picture of a slightly smaller Air with lower battery life than the long-lasting iPhone 16 Plus.
The iPhone 17 lineup might launch between September 8 and September 12, if a new Bloomberg report is to be believed.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
18 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Why these analysts think it's time for a new Apple CEO
Two research analysts made waves last week when they called for a major shakeup at tech giant Apple. The analysts weren't suggesting a logo or product redesign. Instead, they called for the replacement of Tim Cook, the CEO who directly succeeded Steve Jobs in 2011 and helped catapult the company to its $3 trillion valuation. Walter Piecyk and Joe Galone of LightShed Partners, a New York-based technology, media and telecommunications research firm, are questioning whether Cook is still the right person to lead one of the world's most valuable companies amid concerns that it's fallen behind in AI — a technology that's already disrupting work, education and other facets of everyday life. Apple has already faced pressure to come up with a new hit product as sales of smartphones, Apple's biggest revenue driver, have slowed across the industry. 'Apple now needs a product-focused CEO, not one centered on logistics,' the pair wrote on July 9. Replacing Cook would be a high-stakes move for Apple; the company is already undergoing leadership changes elsewhere in the C-suite, and changing CEOs could further pull focus away from running Apple's core business. Cook is also widely supported by Apple's board and has 'staying power akin to other captains of industry' such as Disney's Bob Iger and JPMorgan Chase's Jamie Dimon, reports Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, who has long tracked Apple's business strategy. There's no evidence to indicate Cook is going anywhere soon. Shares of Apple (AAPL) have skyrocketed under Cook's tenure, during which he's also built other lucrative products after the iPhone's success — such as smartwatches, earbuds and digital services. To be sure, the LightShed note is just one take in a crowded field of analysts and researchers who follow Apple's business. But it is perhaps an indication that Apple's AI setbacks are bigger than a standard product delay — to some, they're shaking confidence in Apple's ability to innovate. And Piecyk and Galone aren't the only ones questioning whether Apple needs fresh leadership. 'He's a supply chain guy. They need a tech visionary,' said Ted Mortonson, managing director and technology sector strategist at financial services company Baird. 'I think they're in a lot more trouble than some people think.' Apple did not respond to CNN's request for comment. Apple has grappled with a litany of challenges so far in 2025, among them: President Donald Trump's tariff threats; fresh restrictions from the European Union on how it runs its valuable App Store; and a federal judge allowing an antitrust lawsuit alleging it has monopolized the smartphone market to proceed. But concerns about the iPhone maker's slow progress in AI have been front and center. The company in March said it's delaying a long-awaited update to Siri that would have enabled it to answer more complex questions with personalized answers and handle tasks on a user's behalf. That type of change would bring Siri closer to more modern AI agents like OpenAI's ChatGPT and Google's Gemini. The company hasn't said much about when the revamped Siri will arrive aside from needing 'more time to reach our high-quality bar,' Craig Federighi, Apple's senior vice president of software engineering, said in June at the company's Worldwide Developers Conference. The concern is broader than Siri alone, it's that Apple doesn't seem to have much to show for its AI efforts so far, Creative Strategies CEO and principal analyst Ben Bajarin told CNN earlier this year. Apple has shaken up its AI leadership in an effort to accelerate its efforts in the space, according to Bloomberg. Apple Intelligence, which arrived in 2024 following the iPhone 16's September launch, includes tools that can summarize notifications, transcribe phone calls, erase objects in photos, and use an iPhone's camera to search Google or prompt ChatGPT and create images. Although Apple delayed the Siri update, it did announce a batch of new AI features coming this fall, including live-language translation, AI-generated workout insights for the Apple Watch and enhancements to existing features. But many of these upgrades are Apple playing catch-up to tools already offered by other tech companies, and may not be enough to position Apple as a leader. '(Cook) has done a great job of getting Apple to where it is, but the environment certainly has changed,' said Thomas Martin, partner and senior portfolio manager at investment firm Globalt. 'They are really struggling on the AI front. It's a different animal, because AI is software, and Apple is traditionally almost exclusively hardware.' Under Cook's watch, other high-profile products or projects have fallen short of expectations in recent years. Last year, Apple launched the $3,500 Vision Pro headset, heralding it as the future of computing. But more than a year on, it remains a niche, novelty device as some of Apple's competitors are moving ahead with more stylish and practical augmented reality glasses. Also in 2024, Apple reportedly ended a decade-long effort to build an electric car, known internally as Project Titan, pulling the plug on what was believed to be an ambitious, expensive endeavor. Apple has made other significant changes to its leadership. Chief Financial Officer Luca Maestri was replaced at the start of 2025, although he remains vice president of corporate services according to Apple's website. And the company announced that longtime Chief Operating Officer Jeff Williams will leave the post this month and retire this year. Cook, 64, has been Apple's CEO for nearly 14 years and is widely respected for his operational acumen. He stepped out of the shadow of one of America's most iconic CEOs, Steve Jobs, and built a global supply chain and ecosystem of products and services that maintained Apple's place as one of the world's most valuable companies. He also carved out an important role for Apple in the digital health space with the Apple Watch, which was introduced in 2014 and was the first major new product launched under Cook's tenure. Apple is now a market leader in wearable technology, which includes both the Apple Watch and other devices like its AirPods — it claimed nearly a quarter of the global market for wearables as of the fourth quarter of 2024, according to market research firm the International Data Corporation. Under Cook's leadership, Apple's market cap went from just over $342 billion in August 2011 to roughly $3 trillion today. Even the two LightShed Partners analysts have acknowledged that Cook has done 'a great job.' 'To be clear, Tim Cook was the right CEO at the time of his appointment and unquestionably has done a great job,' the analysts wrote. And further change to Apple's executive ranks might hinder their efforts to expand in AI. unknown content item - 'I think the last thing you want to do is further rock the boat by putting Tim Cook's job on the line,' said CFRA Research analyst Angelo Zino. 'I don't think Apple would even consider doing that.' He added that while it's clear Apple isn't moving fast enough in AI, 'getting rid of Tim Cook' may not be the answer. Instead, the company could address its AI challenges with an acquisition — the company has reportedly discussed buying AI startup Perplexity — or by deepening its partnership with OpenAI, or following in Meta's footsteps by investing more heavily in top talent, Zino said. It's rare for any company to keep a CEO for more than 10 years, says William Klepper, academic director in executive education at Columbia Business School and author of the book 'The CEO's Boss: Tough Love in the Boardroom.' 'Organizations go up and down, right? It's just this nature of what we call the cycle of business,' he said. 'And where they are now is in what I would call kind of a static state.' Keppler notes that the 10-year time frame isn't random. It usually coincides with a major disruptor that alters a company's business model, which in this case is AI. During those periods of change, companies like Apple need to support their core business while simultaneously adapting to what is coming next. 'From my research and my model, you need a change agent … because you got to start a second wave,' he said. 'You can't stay in an executive leadership role when you're at a point of inflection and need to change.' Companies usually install new CEOs for three reasons: in response to a scandal, to fix a crisis or over a loss of trust and competence, says Sandra Sucher, professor of management practice at Harvard Business School. None of those scenarios apply to Cook or Apple. But one thing's clear: Pressure is mounting on Apple to figure it out –— and fast. 'Do we have an Intel-ing of Apple?' said Martin, referring to the once-leading American chipmaker that fell far behind rivals like Nvidia and AMD after missing several major technology waves. 'That would be so sad.'
Tom's Guide
31 minutes ago
- Tom's Guide
Samsung's 'default' Galaxy AI features will remain free indefinitely — here's what you need to know
Samsung has shut down the lingering rumors that it was going to start charging users for the Galaxy AI features it launched alongside the Galaxy S25 series last year. In a report from Android Police, the site says it has direct confirmation from Samsung that default features will remain free "indefinitely". Earlier in the year there was some heavy speculation Samsung would put Galaxy AI behind a paywall after it stated Galaxy AI would be "provided for free until the end of 2025." Android Police doesn't give any reasoning for the U-turn, but Samsung told the publication it will never charge for the features that "are on your phone by default." This likely covers the following: Samsung users are also able to access Google's Gemini features for free — and anyone upgrading to the Galaxy Z Fold 7 or Z Flip 7 will receive a six month Google AI Pro subscription for free. That gets them access to advanced features like Veo 3 Fast. The fact Samsung is making these features available for free, indefinitely, is obviously good news. But it does leave a lingering question about whether Samsung may develop better, non-default AI features down the road and charge for that. This could be a single paywall or a tiered system similar to what Google does with its Pro and Ultra plans. The pace (and cost) of AI is not going to slow down any time soon and Samsung faces tough competition in the space from Google, Meta and Microsoft. If this does prove to be the case, time will tell whether or not Samsung has the goodwill to upsell users from free features to paid-for alternatives. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. Alternatively, this could be the start of something very good for Samsung owners if the company continues to keep handing out its AI developments as freebies. Especially since it just launched a whole set of great new AI features earlier this year alongside the S25. If you're a Samsung owner and new to Galaxy AI, then check out these tips for getting started.
Entrepreneur
33 minutes ago
- Entrepreneur
Tariff Truce & Macroeconomics Headwind Slows Down Smartphone Growth in Q22025
According to preliminary data from the International Data Corporation (IDC) Worldwide Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker, global smartphone shipments increased just one per cent year-over-year (YoY) to 295.2 million units in the second quarter of 2025 (2Q25). You're reading Entrepreneur India, an international franchise of Entrepreneur Media. Ongoing macro- economics challenges coupled with tariffs volatility has surely given a blow to the global smartphone industry. Forex instability, unemployment and inflation across regions have tapered demand, making consumers deprioritize spending on smartphones, especially in low-end segments. According to preliminary data from the International Data Corporation (IDC) Worldwide Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker, global smartphone shipments increased just one per cent year-over-year (YoY) to 295.2 million units in the second quarter of 2025 (2Q25). "Economic uncertainty tends to compress demand at the lower end of the market, where price sensitivity is highest. As a result, low-end Android is witnessing a crunch weighing down overall market growth," said Nabila Popal, senior research director for Worldwide Client Devices, IDC. Samsung gained the top spot with a 19.7 percent market share followed by Apple at 15.7 per cent in the second quarter of 2025. "In the face of ongoing political challenges, the impact of war, and the complexities posed by tariffs, the 1 per cent growth in the smartphone market stands as a critical indicator that the market is poised to return to growth," said Anthony Scarsella, research director for Client Devices, IDC. "Q2 was packed with new models, featuring innovative designs and the powerful integration of AI, which drove the 8th consecutive quarter of growth — a feat we have not witnessed since 2013," Scarsella added. Economic uncertainty tends to compress demand at the lower end of the market, where price sensitivity is highest. As a result, low-end Android is witnessing a crunch weighing down overall market growth. "Samsung was able to consolidate its market leadership and outperform the overall market achieving strong growth in the quarter driven by the sales of its new Galaxy A36 and A56 products," said Francisco Jeronimo, vice president, Client Devices, IDC. "These new products introduce AI-enabled features to mid-range devices, which has been effectively used in retail stores to drive sales, as more consumers become curious about AI." In the face of ongoing political challenges, the impact of war, and the complexities posed by tariffs, the one per cent growth in the smartphone market stands as a critical indicator that the market is poised to return to growth, IDC noted.
