Galaxy S26 ‘Pro’ branding appears, confusingly in place of the base model

Andrew Romero | Jul 29 2025 - 6:58 am PT

It’s quite possible that the sudden and mostly unexpected Galaxy S25 Edge release was a precursor to a larger lineup change. Samsung is reportedly gearing up to launch a Galaxy S26 series with subtly different variation names, opting to use the “Edge” moniker in the flagship trio alongside a curious new Galaxy S26 “Pro” model.

As is the custom, we’re already beginning to see Galaxy S26 leaks and information crop up. This comes just after the company launched the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Flip 7, marking a rather big milestone for the company’s foldable division.

According to the latest one, code was found inside Samsung’s One UI 8 that suggests the Galaxy S26 series would take on slightly different names. The Galaxy S26 would be the S26 Pro, the Galaxy S26+ would become the S26 Edge, and the Ultra model would remain unchanged. This comes from an APK insight report from Android Authority, though the waters are still very murky.

The M1, M2, and M3 identifiers seen throughout One UI 8 are reportedly tied to the Galaxy S26 Pro, S26 Edge, and S26 Ultra, respectively. Screenshots display the connection within Samsung’s internal build.

Advertisement - scroll for more content

The new and exciting thing here might be the addition of the “Pro” model. Samsung hasn’t used the scheme within the Galaxy S lineup in a some time, and it seems the company is trying to add a little flair to a device that often gets overlooked, even though the base model is still often excellent.

If this finding and subsequent theory were to prove true, it would mean that Samsung may stop naming the Galaxy S26 series by the same model names we’ve been used to for the past several generations. Instead, we could see the “Edge” branding adopted into the main lineup, with no more singular offshoots that prove a little too niche.

The base model would also take on the “Pro” name, which does not make traditional sense. It would only make sense from the perspective of a Galaxy S26 FE being considered the base model. In that instance, Samsung’s lineup would start with the FE version and work its way up to Ultra, with the Galaxy S26 Pro and Edge coming in second and third place.

The general idea that the Edge would replace the Plus model originally surfaced earlier this year via a report by The Elec. The source noted that Samsung planned to push the Galaxy S26+ out and replace it with the Galaxy S26 Edge entirely. The plan seemed to be contingent on the Galaxy S25 Edge’s performance. The new findings indicate Samsung may not be willing to turn back.

There are further signs that Samsung is looking to make larger changes to the series. This comes as the company has visibly been opting to push the S Pen out and bring in a new era of devices. We’ve already seen the Z Fold 7 lose functionality in favor of thickness. That may extend to the Ultra, for a smaller profile.

The leaked information may prove to be true, though nothing is concrete until we get a little closer to launch. Samsung is likely to release the Galaxy S26 lineup in the first couple of months of 2026, and plenty of leaks prior should give us a clearer picture of what Samsung plans on pulling with the Galaxy S26 trio.