Samsung Reportedly Gives Up on Super Thin Smartphones Amid Low Sales

[MacRumors]

Samsung has abruptly canceled development of its planned Galaxy S26 Edge smartphone after disappointing sales of the ultra-thin Galaxy S25 Edge, which rivals the iPhone Air, Korea's NewsPim claims.

Samsung apparently halted work on the Galaxy S26 Edge this week, informing employees internally that the product line would be discontinued. Internal discussions in September shifted priorities toward the more conventional "Plus" form factor after confirming that consumer demand for ultra-slim flagships was weaker than expected.

The Galaxy S25 Edge features a thin 5.5mm profile and a 3,900mAh battery, but its high price and reduced battery capacity drew criticism. Samsung's leadership reportedly decided to focus on models with broader consumer appeal rather than pursue niche thin designs that compromise durability, battery life, and other features.

The decision comes less than five months after the Galaxy S25 Edge debuted in May, following an ambitious effort to establish a new class of ultra-slim flagship devices positioned between the standard Galaxy S and the Ultra model. The original plan to revive the "Edge" brand, once associated with Samsung's curved-display models, was intended to replace the Plus series as a sleeker, trend-driven option.

Samsung will apparently instead add a Galaxy S26 Plus model to its 2026 lineup, reverting to the company's traditional three-tier structure of base, Plus, and Ultra variants. Despite the cancellation, development of the Galaxy S26 Edge was already complete. Development of the S26 Plus is expected to begin before the end of the third quarter of 2025.

The atmosphere inside the company is said to be "chaotic" and "embarrassed" following the sudden lineup revision. Samsung reportedly plans to sell through existing inventory of the Galaxy S25 Edge and cease further production once stock is depleted.

If true, the news may not bode well for Apple's iPhone Air, which could be facing similar challenges in the market. Last month, Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo noted that the iPhone Air was the only model of the four new iPhones that was readily available at launch, suggesting lower than expected demand.











Article Link: Samsung Reportedly Gives Up on Super Thin Smartphones Amid Low Sales

 

[MacUserFella]

Won’t be surprised if Apple does this too

 

[turbineseaplane]

(psst) Make something small ... i.e. "sized for normal hands" and you'll have a buyer in me!

 

[ghanwani]

I haven't held one of these but I can say for sure that holding an iPhone 17 Air felt absolutely nothing special. Contrast with holding an iPhone 5 after a 4/4S and I knew I wanted one--it just had a completely different feel to it.

So then the question becomes -- If it doesn't feel great, why would someone buy a phone full of compromises?

My guess is that Apple will follow suit.

 

[rappr]

If true, the news may not bode well for Apple's iPhone Air, which could be facing similar challenges in the market.

Did you guys not just post that the iPhone Air sold out in China? Did the Edge sell out in China?

 

[turbineseaplane]

I haven't held one of these but I can say for sure that holding an iPhone 17 Air felt absolutely nothing special. Contrast with holding an iPhone 5 after a 4/4S and I knew I wanted one--it just had a completely different feel to it.

So then the question becomes -- If it doesn't feel great, why would someone buy a phone full of compromises?

My guess is that Apple will follow suit.

I've not held an Air, but your report makes me fairly convinced I won't be "wowed" either.

A huge (tall & wide) but super thin patio paver does nothing for me as a smaller phone user.

My hands have not changed size and, to this day, nothing feels as great in hand to me as the iPhone 4 up through SE1. (I consider all the options in that range of sizes to be great).

I deal with my 13 Mini, but don't love it like I did those older models.

 

[ginkobiloba]

If true, the news may not bode well for Apple's iPhone Air, which could be facing similar challenges in the market

And yet :

iPhone Air Sells Out in China

Apple's iPhone Air sold out across online stores in China within hours of pre-orders opening on Friday, the South China Morning Post reports. ...

www.macrumors.com

 

[psxp]

Apple has Apple Sheeple. People who lap up their products. I would not be surprised that the people buying the Air are "influencers" mainly.. but who knows.. time will tell

 

[bluespark]

I hope people who are thinking about the Air give it a chance. It's easy to have FOMO during the purchasing process, but I haven't regretted buying the Air for a moment. Having used it since launch day, I can now say without reservation that it is my favorite iPhone ever. I truly love it.

 

[psxp]

And yet :

iPhone Air Sells Out in China

Apple's iPhone Air sold out across online stores in China within hours of pre-orders opening on Friday, the South China Morning Post reports. ...

www.macrumors.com

Yes, the "clout" factor . The "fashionable" Asian market. Need to have the latest and greatest . Apple has a big market there.

 

[Unregistered 4U]

Before:
“Just heard Apple’s making a thin phone, LET’S BEAT THEM TO MARKET!”
“Are we going to make any changes for power efficiency or decreasing the space the components take up to add a larger battery?”
“Who do you think we are, Apple? No, we’re going to take our off the shelf stuff and make this. Just beating Apple to market will be worth it!”

After:
“Beating Apple to market wasn’t really worth it.”

Oh, and cue the commercial in a few weeks from the other side of the company making fun of Apple for releasing a thin phone after they did.

 

[Kaffegrut]

If the Air was the size of the 12/13 mini, I would have bought it.

 

[Apple-achian]

Iphone Air already so legendary it ended a competitor's product series.

 

[cocky jeremy]

Won’t be surprised if Apple does this too

Of course not. The 4th model is always the "Lets can the old one and try something new" model.

 

[Unregistered 4U]

Yes, the "clout" factor . The "fashionable" Asian market. Need to have the latest and greatest . Apple has a big market there.

Mainly because while they have a small marketshare, even a small marketshare among that many people is still quite profitable.

 

[hieranonymous]

Meanwhile the iPhone Air is selling like gangbusters in China. 🤷‍♂️

 

[titanium69]

Apparently iphone air sold out in china... but given Apple is sneakier than your local drug dealer.. can we have actual numbers as to the sales?
If they stocked 2 at each store so they can official say it's sold out isn`t very impressive but it's very apple-esque

 

[Rogifan]

Not surprised at all. What is surprising is the Apple tech world, who for years criticized the company for being obsessed with thinness and form over function, abandoning any of those critiques with the iPhone Air. There’s no selling point for the Air other than it’s super thin. But did anyone ask for a super thin phone?

 

[MRSugarD]

The Air is amazing and a well thought out addition to the lineup in contrast to Samsung‘s oddly half-baked approach no one really cares about. Maybe they heard the supply chain rumors about an upcoming slim model and simply wanted to beat Apple?

 

[MaxVerstappen]

If the Air was the size of the 12/13 mini, I would have bought it.

The battery wouldn’t last longer than 2 hours then…

 

[HouseLannister]

And remember that this phone had two speakers, a vapor chamber, and a physical SIM. iPhone Air still has a lot of catching up to do if it wants to be a minor failure instead of a major failure.

 

[Mactech20]

I've not held an Air, but your report makes me fairly convinced I won't be "wowed" either.

A huge (tall & wide) but super thin patio paver, does nothing for me as a smaller phone user.

My hands have not changed size, and to this day, nothing feels as great in hand to me as the iPhone 4 up through SE1. (I consider all the options in that range of sizes to be great).

I deal with my 13 Mini, but don't love it like I did those older models.

It wouldn't be a forum about a phone if a mini user didn't bring up the mini somehow. Lol. No disrespect as I am a mini user myself but man... You could almost say its a mini cult following.

 

[vegetassj4]

Who want's a super slim phone?

I like big bumps and I cannot lie
You other brothers can't deny
That when a phone shows up with a 1000 nit Face
And a round lens in your face
You get sprung, want to pull up tough
'Cause you noticed that lens was stuffed.

Baby got Back

 

[rappr]

If they stocked 2 at each store so they can official say it's sold out isn`t very impressive but it's very apple-esque

Strange how no one ever asks these questions when it’s reported the other models are selling well….

 

[matzoek]

Is there any money in cycling through these yearly? Do a Mini one year, a Plus the next, then an Air, then something else?