Samsung’s 2026 Forecast: Effects of Crucial Choices Made in 2025

A year when Samsung’s recent investments start to bear fruit…or fall apart.

Samsung’s primary obstacle in 2026 is sustaining the robust growth momentum it experienced in 2025. We observed last year that by concentrating on its core strengths and remaining vigilant against competitors, Samsung could achieve remarkable results. It truly executed a remarkable turnaround last year, but now it must demonstrate why it stands as the leading Android manufacturer.

Emphasize hardware, and refine the hardware

While the company rolled out some of its best products in 2025, I believe it faced challenges with organization. The introduction of the S25 Edge was mainly aimed at rivaling Apple, but consumers are not interested in a sleek phone that sacrifices performance. Reports emerged indicating that due to disappointing sales, the company started scaling back production and heavily discounting the device. Now, sources suggest that the company has abandoned plans for the S26 Edge, and a high-ranking Samsung executive allegedly informed a South Korean outlet that the company was uncertain if the slim line would ever make a comeback, with current indications suggesting it’s highly unlikely. It’s essentially vanished.

I believe in 2026, Samsung should concentrate on maintaining a streamlined lineup of phones that are expected to replicate the success of 2025. Launching its flagship S26 lineup, followed by the next generation of foldables (Galaxy Z Flip 8 and Z Fold 8), alongside its more budget-friendly A-series, should become the norm. However, even with this standardized lineup, reports suggest that Samsung may only offer the Galaxy S26 base, Plus, and Ultra models, eliminating the edge variant and dropping the “Pro” designation for the base model to uphold a traditional lineup. This strategy appears logical because introducing the base model with a “Pro” tag would necessitate the inclusion of Pro-level features, yet it still seems like the company is confusing its customers.

I reflect on other random models released last year, such as the Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE. Why? What was the rationale behind launching this variant? Senior Editor, Andrew Myrick, notes in his hands-on review, “there’s really not all that much to cover here.” “The Flip 7 FE is essentially the Galaxy Z Flip 6 with a lower price and a different processor,” he states. Contributor Nirave Gondhia mentions in his review that while the phone is solid, it targets price-sensitive consumers and features a stripped-down version of the Flip 6. However, the Flip 6 remains available at discounted prices at all the same retailers selling the Flip 7 FE. I understand that sometimes phone launches are meant to gauge audience interest. Still, many of these launches seem unnecessary and redundant.

Bolster partnership with Google

Should Samsung adhere to its established phone lineup while concentrating on high-quality hardware development, 2026 is poised to be an exceptional year for it. The success Samsung achieved last year stemmed from allowing Google to manage the software while it focused on hardware. This collaborative approach enabled the company to provide one of the finest AI implementations in its flagship, the Galaxy S25 series. Google and Samsung are like peanut butter and jelly, and Samsung must continually recognize that fostering a strong alliance with Google will aid in maintaining its status as the premier Android manufacturer.

2026: Convince me on the TriFold and Galaxy XR

Samsung’s major hurdle in 2026 will be persuading me and the public that we need the Galaxy Z TriFold and the Galaxy XR headset. As it stands, the TriFold appears to be a gimmicky device, and the XR lacks clear use case scenarios. I need Samsung to articulate why a tri-fold is the future of smartphones when I remain unconvinced about foldable devices overall. Senior Editor, Harish Jonnalagadda, remarks that the TriFold is “a bold new vision for Samsung, and it’s clear the brand is testing the waters with this device.” However, with a price point expected to exceed $2,000, I want to understand the future implications of this form factor.

I also want clarity on how Samsung intends to sway users to purchase its Galaxy XR headset, as I still fail to perceive the real utility of this device. Here are my inquiries for you, Samsung: What improvements will you implement to enhance the user experience of the XR device? Will we be adding more applications? What functionalities will users gain access to with this device? Numerous uncertainties remain regarding this device, and I urge Samsung to enhance its accessibility and familiarity.

Nevertheless, I believe that 2026 has the potential to be an outstanding year for Samsung, provided it remains committed to its objectives, emphasizes hardware, and advances the narrative regarding new devices.

Google’s Progress by 2026: Milestones and Prospective Vision

While Google utilized 2025 to create the groundwork for AI appreciation, in 2026, the company must capitalize on this momentum and finalize the initiative. The upcoming year must be the moment Google instills AI relevance in consumers’ minds during their smartphone purchases.

Although AI isn’t the sole focus, it will be the essential element that Google needs to advance smartphone innovation, which seems to be growing increasingly mundane each year, lacking significant excitement for the majority.

2026: the year AI becomes standard and widely available

I’m stating it now, but Google will struggle if it takes two decades to establish Gemini as a cohesive experience that will drive AI across all platforms as it did with Google Workspace.

While Google Workspace is arguably the most favored and utilized office suite, it literally took the company 20 years to develop something thoroughly refined, integrated, and adept enough to compete with Microsoft Office.

Admittedly, Google was clever to initially introduce Docs, Gmail, and several applications across various platforms, but it wasn’t until 2016 that the company rebranded these tools into G Suite, later changing it to Workspace.

It absolutely cannot afford to take a similar approach with Gemini due to the fierce competition present.

As Brady Snyder from Android Central points out, while ChatGPT boasts superior models, broader use cases, and greater brand recognition, Google’s Gemini has demonstrated strong evidence that the tides are shifting. Gemini stands out as the only chatbot consistently attracting web traffic, and now that Gemini 3 has launched, Google is taking innovative measures to satisfy the substantial demand.

In 2026, Google needs, no, MUST make Gemini widespread and attainable.

As we start to witness a decline in AI breakthroughs as it settles into its niche, 2026 will focus on persuading the public that AI is here to stay and is becoming a regular aspect of life.

A new form factor?

In 2026, I anticipate some advancements in Google’s hardware strategy. The company had limited output in 2025 since the focus was on preparing its hardware for AI achievements. However, it’s now time for transformation. Dare I suggest? We need a Pixel Flip!!!!

While I recognize that companies have launched foldable devices as the ROI is significantly higher for these models than for flips, there’s value in appealing to a broad audience, and a flip phone can achieve that. Flip phones are charming, compact, user-friendly, and practical. There are more scenarios where a consumer might opt for a flip phone over a foldable one.

I also urge Google to broaden its Google Home product lineup. Yes, a new Nest speaker is coming in 2026, and it updated the Nest Thermostat in 2024, but I still believe Google hasn’t yet unified its smart home ecosystem. With a robust Gemini experience in place, there’s no reason Google can’t enhance this aspect.

Strong guardrails must be established

As I encourage Google to promote AI’s accessibility and prevalence, I implore the company to regard the potential societal impacts of AI with utmost seriousness, and I believe it does.

This past year has shown us that companies are investing heavily in the rapid development of AI, but it’s also revealing the associated risks. Earlier this summer, parents took legal action against OpenAI, claiming that ChatGPT contributed to their teenager’s suicide.

Such stories deeply sadden me. While I find AI astonishing, it’s in moments like these that I’m aware companies like Google need to foster human success rather than failure.

I want to witness AI empowering the world, not leading to its detriment. We observed the ascent of social media in 2007 followed by its decline in 2016. I know we will encounter more negative narratives stemming from AI’s shortcomings, but here’s my plea to you, Google: let’s work to uplift humanity instead of undermining it.