Samsung Adjusts Galaxy S26 Production Strategy; Kicks Off in December with 'Ultra' Model
Specifically, Samsung Electronics intends to alter the production timeline of the new Galaxy S26 smartphone series. Factory operations for manufacture of the Ultra high-end model begin in December, while mass production for the standard and Plus models, in relative terms, begins in January of next year. Hence, this staggered production may lead to some models coming later than some other models were released this year.
Schedule Change Reason From 'Edge' to 'Plus'
The primary reason behind this modified schedule is a late-stage change for the product line. The planned standard, Edge, and Ultra models have been put aside as part of the Galaxy S26 series, with the latest decision coming down to terminate Edge model development.
As reported, this decision is based on the disappointing sales of other "slim" smartphones, such as the Galaxy S25 Edge and Apple's iPhone 17 Air. Samsung has since shifted focus to adding a Plus model, similar to the S25 series, but development of that Plus variant is still in progress and will take an additional one to two months to finish.
Production Strategy and Component Supply
With designs for the standard and Ultra models now finalized, Samsung's production policy is oriented towards efficiency and ensuring adequate inventory for its most popular device.
- Contrasting Sale Prioritization: The Ultra model is the first to undergo production in order to build a good stock before launch, while it accounts for more than half of the entire sales volume of the series.
- Component Readiness: The supply chain reflects this priority. The OLED display of the Ultra model granted permission to start production from the middle of November, while standard and Plus model displays have been set for December.
- Efficient Batch: The standard and Plus models will be produced together starting January. Quite a lot of components are shared with each other, particularly the same OLED panel which makes concurrent production more efficient.
Possible Ramifications for the Release Date
Although mass production is already proceeding on a few of the components for the three models, finalization of the design for the Plus remains pending, which will only allow specific parts related to it to start mass production in December. Since mass production can only begin after all development and reliability tests are passed, industry sources expect that such a staggered start would slightly delay the official release of the standard and Plus models.
