Analytics: why Samsung Galaxy S26 launch could be a failure – and what can save the company
By ForGeeks
Samsung is gearing up to unveil the Galaxy S26 series, but concerns are growing louder in the industry that the upcoming launch risks becoming one of the company’s most controversial in years. The decision to copy Apple’s approach and expand the lineup without a clear strategy could weaken the brand’s position.
Samsung is preparing to unveil the Galaxy S26 series, but industry concerns are growing.
When “copying Apple” becomes a mistake
Following the market leader isn’t always a success. In Samsung’s case, the situation is looking more and more like a “blind leading the blind” story. The South Korean giant is actively adopting the ideas of its Cupertino rival, but increasingly it’s doing so without taking its own specifics and customers’ interests into account. If it doesn’t change course, the company risks losing the very identity that made it a global leader in the Galaxy S and Note era.
How many models will the Galaxy S26 have
Samsung originally planned to change its strategy by dropping the intermediate Plus version, which has traditionally sold worse than the base and Ultra models. However, the company decided otherwise: after a short pause, they resumed the Galaxy S26 Plus project – four months before its anticipated release.
Simultaneously, work continued on the new Galaxy S26 Edge, a smartphone rumored to be inspired by the design of the iPhone Air (which in turn took ideas from Google’s Pixel 10). As such, there are four models expected in February 2026: Galaxy S26, Galaxy S26 Plus, Galaxy S26 Edge and Galaxy S26 Ultra.
The problem is something the market has long shown: buyers aren’t interested in “thin” or niche models. The Edge and Plus may find their audience, but they won’t become sales drivers across the lineup. On the contrary, expanding the lineup can only dilute the perception of the flagship series and reduce interest in key devices.
When two failures don’t equal success
Many analysts believe that betting on two controversial models – the Edge and Plus – could backfire. In fact, Samsung risks simultaneously releasing two smartphones that won’t catch on in the market.
Samsung is at risk of launching two smartphones that won’t catch on in the market.
Edge will become a niche experiment for fans of unusual design, while Plus will continue to exist without a clear target between the base and Ultra variants. As a result, the series could lose focus and the marketing budget could get smeared between unnecessary items.
Wild Card: Galaxy TriFold
The way out may be to bet on a device that truly sets Samsung apart from the competition – Galaxy TriFold. It’s the company’s first triple-folding smartphone, and it could bring interest back to the brand.
There are preliminary reports that the TriFold could be unveiled as early as late October, but the project is not yet ready for mass sales. That’s why analysts suggest combining its presentation with the announcement of the Galaxy S26 series. Such a move would give Samsung a powerful image effect – the company could show not just a lineup update, but a new category of devices.
Why Samsung should learn to copy smarter
Copying ideas in the tech industry is normal. But the difference between success and failure is often how exactly companies borrow other people’s solutions. Apple waits, analyzes, and implements features only after they mature. Then it turns them into a standard as if it had reinvented them.
Samsung, on the other hand, is often in a hurry. In the rush to “keep up with Apple,” the company loses the ability to shape its own trends. The risks are obvious: too frequent releases, spreading attention between series, and a decline in recognition of key models.
A bold move that could give Samsung back its respect
The analysts’ main point is simple: the Galaxy S26 doesn’t need four similar smartphones, but two strong products and one innovation that will restore the company’s leadership image.
If Samsung decides to introduce the TriFold as part of the S26 lineup, it will signal that it’s not a concept, but a real device with the potential to become a user’s primary smartphone.
This move will not only attract media and consumer attention, but also remind us that risk-taking is what Samsung’s success was once built on. After all, it was boldness, not careful copying, that once made the company a symbol of technological breakthroughs.
