Samsung has always had a bit of a challenge with its S-series flagships: How can it differentiate the Plus model enough that people would want to buy it over its cheaper and more expensive siblings? It's a problem that has plagued the Plus model for years, and with the introduction of the Galaxy S25 Edge last year, it seemed like Samsung might have the makings of a compelling Plus offering for 2026.
Unfortunately, what we got was nothing as I hoped for, and Samsung hasn't seemed to learn from its lessons with the Edge, nor does it seem interested in giving the Plus its own edge, so to speak. That's not to say the Galaxy S26 Plus isn't a good phone, because it is, but it's much less compelling a buy given the upgrades its two siblings received, and with a higher $1,099 price tag, it feels like Samsung is pushing users towards the Galaxy S26 Ultra.
