Fresh listings within Samsung’s own software build resources suggest a straightforward 2026 roadmap: three Galaxy S26 flagships and three fresh new foldables, up to and including a budget-friendly Z Flip 8 FE. The internal model identifiers don’t include any names spelled out, but they match the coding pattern Samsung has used for years, giving us a trustworthy preview of what’s on the way.
The biggest wrinkle is branding. One model number also implies that Samsung has yet to decide on whether it wants to keep resurrecting the “Edge” name or switch back to the more familiar label of “Plus” for its middle phone in the S series. Either way, the hardware matrix appears to be in place: a base S26, a mid-tier S26 Edge/Plus and top-end S26 Ultra, as well as fresh Fold and Flip variants and cheaper Flip FE ones.
What the Leaked Internal Codes Reveal About 2026 Models
Samsung’s Galaxy monikers generally fall into predictable families: S-series devices are coded SM-S9xx; foldables use SM-F9xx. On foldables, each generation typically raises the number by 10 (as we’ve seen from Z Fold 5 to Fold 6), a trend echoed for the slate in 2026. The outlier here is the Flip FE, which leaps far more than the rest — by over 200 in sequence — suggesting a differing platform baseline or internal sourcing shift for that model.
The S26 lineup seems simple enough: three SKUs across base, mid-tier and Ultra variants. The foldable threesome appears to be the Z Fold 8, the Z Flip 8 and the Z Flip 8 FE. Noticeably missing that was once submitted for 2026 is another TriFold entry; rumors have suggested the initial proofs were due in the previous cycle, which explains why it continues to be lumped with past launches instead of the 2026 class.
S26 Strategy and the Edge Versus Plus Naming Question
There is a single number that we know about, which is the mid-tier S26, but it doesn’t tell us anything about whether they would call it “Edge” again or go with “Plus”. The return of Edge branding was a surprise to many observers, as Plus had been the steady middle option for years. The decision Samsung makes on this name is important: it’s a move that indicates how the company will frame the middle device (style differentiation with “Edge” or simply performance tiering with “Plus”).
Under the hood, anticipate that split play as we’ve seen in recent Galaxy flagships: an ultra-high-end that pushes camera and AI processing, a middle model sharing core silicon but trimming premium capabilities, and a base model targeted toward wider price bands.
Region-specific chips are still on the table—Samsung has gone back and forth between Snapdragon-only (the S26) and a mix of Exynos and Snapdragon components depending on market, cost, and supply issues. Certification databases such as Bluetooth SIG and 3C usually offer validation for these model codes closer to launch, so keep an eye open for those checkpoints to firm up configurations.
Foldables Expand With a Z Flip 8 FE Aimed at Affordability
A Z Flip 8 FE is the headline twist. Historically, “FE” has stood for “Fan Edition” at Samsung — devices that retain the essentials while cutting costs. Bringing that playbook to a clamshell foldable implies Samsung believes there’s an opportunity to expand the category at a more affordable price. The unusual model number leap might indicate a different radio platform, display controller, or even just manufacturing footprint than the standard Flip.
Industry trackers have said time and again that price is the most significant barrier to adoption for foldables. Numbers differ, as per the estimates by research firms like DSCC and Counterpoint, but reducing entry points and broadening mid-range options are crucial for the next phase of growth. An FE-tier clamshell would be the direct answer to that, particularly if Samsung is able to tap its mature hinge designs, improved UTG and already established supply lines to keep the price low.
And like the premium Fold, the model numbering suggests a regular generational upgrade and not a radical reboot. That number is likely to come down with time, and Samsung will likely continue to improve weight, hinge efficiency, crease visibility and sustained performance — all places where every year the company has made real if incremental strides.
What Might Still Change Before Samsung Finalizes 2026 Lineup
What you see in a pre-release model list is a snapshot, not the final manifest. Last cycle’s early rosters were probably lacking at least one lean S-series variant and an FE foldable that landed in the end. Samsung often changes or creates SKUs depending on the availability of components and how it can position a phone in various markets, and regional flavors can make the list all over again months after we create it.
The point being: three S26 flagships have been signed and sealed, there are three foldables in the works — with one Flip FE case on the roadmap. The brand of the middle child S26 is not yet a done deal, but the hardware cadence and code patterns fit Samsung’s playbook. If past cycles are any indication, the software scrape model numbers we observed today will for the most part correspond to the retail lineup when they take center stage.
