Will the S26 Pro Replace the Base Model? Here’s What’s Really Going On

If you've been trying to follow the Galaxy S26 rumors and maybe even questioning, “Will the S26 Pro replace the base model?”, you probably feel like you've got whiplash. And you're not crazy. Keeping up with the twists and turns is a full-time job. One minute, you're reading one thing, and the next day, the entire story gets flipped on its head.

For weeks, the only thing the internet would talk about was the Samsung Galaxy S26 Pro. You saw the reports. We all did. This was the big one. This was supposed to be the Galaxy models that settle the score in the iPhone 15 vs iPhone 16 debate.

The rumors were specific, too. We saw full spec lists from major outlets like PCMag and Android Headlines. They said the S26 Pro would be the new base model. It was going to have a new 6.27-inch screen, an upgraded 50MP main camera, and the new Exynos 2600 vs Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processor. It sounded completely epic in our books. Honestly, it sounded done.

And then, just as we all got used to the idea... the story changed. In this post, we’re going to tackle all these Galaxy S26 rumors head-on. Let’s get to the bottom of this together: 

To understand what’s happening now, you have to look at this year's phones. Samsung tried something new. They gave us the S25, the S25 Ultra, and a new, super-thin phone called the S25 Edge. This "Edge" was supposed to be the cool new "middle" phone, replacing the "Plus" model we've known for years.

There was just one problem. It was a total flop.

The S25 Edge sold terribly. According to a report from GSMArena, it sold 74% less than the "Plus" model it was trying to replace. That’s not a miss; that’s a train wreck. When a phone sells that badly, companies don't sit around and hope. They act fast, and that's exactly what Samsung did.

Because the Edge failed so hard, Samsung had a big, "Plus"-sized hole in its lineup. And it looks like they’re going back to what works.

The newest word on the street, from top-dog sources like GSMArena and Android Authority, is that Samsung has completely killed the "Edge" line. It's done.

And in its place, they’re bringing back the phone everyone thought was dead: the S26 Plus. That's right, the "Plus" is back from the grave. This is great news for people who want one of the biggest screens but don't want to spring for all the Ultra-level extras. It's one of the Samsung phones worth considering if you just want a big one, then this is a good, and reliable phone without the Ultra price tag.

This is where all the puzzle pieces snap together. Think about it. If you’re Samsung, you now have a problem. Your lineup is a mess. Are you really going to sell an "S26 Pro," an "S26 Plus," and an "S26 Ultra"?

Darn right, that's confusing.

So, the very latest scoop from Android Authority, is that Samsung is hitting the 'reset' button. They are reportedly "dumping" the "Pro" name and "reverting" to its old, classic strategy. The 2026 Samsung Galaxy S26 lineup is now rumored to be the classic trio: S26, S26 Plus, and S26 Ultra.

So, will the S26 Pro replace the base model? The answer is no. It looks like the "Pro" was just the codename for the new base S26 all along. The story didn't "lie"; it just evolved.

Alright, stop scrolling. Listen up. Through all the "Pro" and "Plus" drama, one, beautiful, epically kick-butt rumor has stayed true.

The entire new Samsung Galaxy S26 lineup is finally, finally getting built-in Qi2 magnetic charging.

"Qi-what?" you ask. (It’s "chee-two.")

Here’s what that means in plain English: You know how iPhones have that snap? That satisfying click when a charger or a wallet just grabs onto the back of the phone? That's MagSafe. It’s a ring of magnets. For years, Android users have been left out. If you wanted that "snap," you had to buy a special case. (Ahem, like ours. We've been doing this for years). Your phone couldn't do it on its own.

Qi2 is that, but for everyone. It's the new universal standard for wireless charging with magnets. And the S26 is set to be the first major Samsung flagship to have it built right in.

This is not a drill. This is a huge, epic deal. This is the world Rokform was built for. This is where magnets and phones finally come together in perfect harmony.

This changes everything about how you use your phone. No more messing with a flimsy car mount that drops your phone on every speedbump. No more sliding your phone on a charging pad, trying to find the "sweet spot." No more stuffing your phone in your pocket on a ride.

This is a new world of snap-on, snap-off freedom. Imagine you're in your truck. You hop in, and instead of messing with some spring-loaded cradle, you just toss your new S26 at the dash. CLICK. It’s on your Rokform mount, charging, and completely secure.

Imagine you're on your motorcycle. Your phone isn't zipped away. It’s snapped right to your handlebars, locked in, showing you the map. You hit a pothole. It doesn't move. You hit a bump and it doesn't even flinch. This is what we’re talking about.

This is our favorite new pivot. For weeks, the "S26 Pro" rumor said the new phone was going on a diet. It was supposed to be just 6.96mm thick, basically, super skinny.

Sounds cool, right? Well, hold on.

That newest report from 9to5Google says that rumor is practically a bust. A new prototype is actually thicker than last year's phone. And the new S26 Plus (back from the dead) is also thicker.

And you know why? It’s because of those impressive Qi2 magnets.

That’s right. To add that new magnetic magic, the phone needs a little more room. And you know what? We’ll take it. A slightly thicker, tougher phone with built-in magnets is a trade we’ll make any day of the week. This still means the S26 Ultra will be one of the biggest Samsung phones available, a true beast.

This is the classic Samsung story. One phone, two brains. It’s the Exynos 2600 vs Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 showdown.

Here’s the deal: The "brain" of the phone is its processor. It makes it fast. Samsung likes to use two different suppliers. Folks in the U.S. will probably get the new Snapdragon chip from Qualcomm. That’s the big-name chip everyone knows. It's gonna be fast.

The rest of the world? GSMArena reports they’ll probably get Samsung’s own Exynos 2600 chip. But here's the twist: that same report says the Ultra model will only use the Snapdragon chip, no matter where you live. This makes sense. It means their most expensive phone is the most powerful for everyone. It also makes the iPhone vs Samsung performance debate way more interesting.

What about the rest of the guts? The new S26 (the one we thought was the Pro) is rumored to come with up to 12GB of RAM. But Android Headlines has mentioned that the series could get a bump to 16GB of RAM.

This is totally cool for people who use their phones. More RAM means you can swap between your maps, your music, and your texts without anything closing or lagging. It's a must-have for power users.

And for storage? We're hearing rumors of 256GB and 512GB options. We're hoping the 128GB base model is finally dead. This is a big deal for people who shoot 8K videos. We're waiting to see if these will be the Samsung phones with the most storage, maybe even hitting that 1TB mark on the Ultra.

This is a question we see a lot. Will the S26 be one of the good dual SIM phones? Almost certainly, yes. But like recent models, it'll probably be one physical SIM card and one eSIM (the digital one).

This is great for travelers or for people who have to carry a work phone and a personal phone. Now you can just have one. It's a simple feature, but one that makes a huge difference.

This is where the rumors are still all over the place. Those original "S26 Pro" reports (from PCMag) listed a "new, upgraded 50MP main sensor" for the base model. That sounds pretty intriguing, and we definitely want that.

But other rumors, like one from leaker Ice Universe say Samsung is keeping the same 10MP 3x zoom camera. Or maybe even the same main camera as the S25. Instead of new parts, they might just stuff it with new AI smarts to make pictures look better. That's a pretty half-baked solution, if you ask us.

The Ultra model will almost certainly keep its monster 200MP camera. But for the base models? It’s a coin flip. We'll have to wait and see if these will truly be the Samsung phones with the best camera system.

So, when can you get your hands on this mystery phone? You guessed it: the rumors are a mess.

One report pointed to a launch in late February or early March 2026, and that honestly made sense.

But just recently, GSMArena dropped a new report from Korea claiming that's wrong. They say Samsung has "moved back" the date to late January 2026, with sales in early February. This would be way sooner than expected.

So, is it sooner or later? Who knows. The only thing that's certain is that it's coming. And it's coming fast. We are all just so glad that the S25 release date came and went so we can get to the new stuff.

You think Samsung's rumors are wild? Hold our beer.

Apple is over in their own lane building stuff that sounds like it’s straight out of a sci-fi movie. And since we make the toughest phone cases for both, we keep an eye on everyone.

You read that right. The iPhone 17 rumors are small potatoes compared to this.

Apple is building a foldable iPhone Fold/Ultra. This isn’t one of those little "flip" phones. This is a book-style foldable. It’s a regular-sized iPhone on the outside, but it opens up like a book into a mini-tablet. We're talking about a massive 7.8-inch screen.

And you know Apple. They’re not going to do it unless they do it right. They’re reportedly using a crazy new liquid metal hinge. That means it’ll be super strong, and, most importantly, it’s designed to get rid of that ugly crease you see on other foldable phones. The iPhone 18 rumors say this new foldable iPhone Fold/Ultra could launch as soon as September 2026.

Apple isn't stopping there. They’re completely re-thinking the insides of their phones.

They're working on new silicon-carbon battery tech. That’s a fancy way of saying they found a way to cram way more power into a smaller, thinner battery. Imagine a phone that’s paper-thin but still has the best battery life and lasts for two days. That’s the magic they're working on. This new battery will probably show up in the new A19 Pro chip models and beyond.

And they’re not done with folding. After the book foldable in 2026, the rumors say Apple is planning a clamshell iPhone Flip for 2028. There’s not a doubt in our minds that the future is set to be a pretty wild ride.

Okay, let's bring it back to reality. These new phones are awesome. But they are also expensive, which brings us to our next point.

That Samsung Galaxy S26 with its new (maybe?) thicker design and (definitely!) new magnets? You're gonna want one. That foldable iPhone Fold/Ultra? It’s going to be the coolest thing on the block.

But these phones are also going to cost a fortune. We’re talking $1,000, $1,500, maybe even $2,000 for that new foldable. The first time you drop it, your heart is going to stop.

What happens when you fumble your new S26 getting out of your truck? What happens when it slips off your desk? What happens when you hit the trail on your mountain bike and you take a spill? That shiny, $1,500 piece of glass and metal is an investment. You've got to protect it.

We’ve all seen it, and a lot of us have even felt it. It's that slow-motion "oh no" as your brand new, $1,500 phone cartwheels across the pavement. You get that sick feeling in your stomach. You bend over, pick it up, and pray. And then you see it: the spider-web.

That $10 case was fine for sliding off the couch, but it just stood by and watched when a real drop happened. That's a feeling we wouldn't wish on anyone. An epic phone deserves epic protection, not just a thin piece of plastic. You need something with real impact protection ratings.

It all starts with the case. We make the most protective phone cases on the planet. No holds barred.

Our Apple cases and Samsung phone cases aren't just "tough." They’re beyond-military-spec drop-tested. We’re talking 6-foot drops, 10-foot drops, "oh-darn-I-dropped-it-off-the-roof" drops. They are true military-grade phone cases built with high-impact polycarbonate and shock-absorbing TPU. We've got your back.

Even if you're still rocking an older model, we've got you. And hey, are you wondering if the S23 is waterproof? (Sort of, it's water-resistant, but don't take it swimming). Still comparing your S23 5G vs S23 FE? It doesn't matter. A Rokform case is the best upgrade you can buy.

That new Qi2 magnet in the S26? That’s also ridiculously phenomenal. We love it and know it's perfect for our new accessories. But it’s just the start.

Our cases have their own industrial-strength N52 neodymium magnets. They’re bigger, stronger, and give you holding power you won't believe. You can slap your phone onto any metal surface - your toolbox, your fridge, your workout rack - and it stays put.

This is what Samsung users have loved about our cases for years, and now it's going to be even better. You'll have our power-magnets and the phone's new built-in Qi2 magnets. It's the best of both worlds.

This is what separates the toys from the tools. And this is our very own secret weapon.

Our patented RokLock twist-lock system.

It’s a four-point twist lock that is tough as nails. You click your phone onto one of our mounts, and it is not coming off until you say so. No bump, no pothole, no jump, no high-speed vibration is shaking it loose. This is the system that’s trusted by police, military, and first responders.

When you're on your bike, you're not using just a magnet. You're using the lock too. It’s the only way to be 100% sure your phone is safe.

When you get a Rokform case, you're not just getting a case. You're unlocking a whole new world for your phone.

• On the Road: We have the best iPhone car phone mounts and Samsung mounts. Vent, dash, windshield. Lock it on and go. We have the best vent car mounts for Apple enthusiasts and Samsung fans alike

• On Two Wheels: This is our home. We have Samsung S26 motorcycle mount systems that are trusted by riders everywhere. Handlebar, stem, fork. Your phone becomes your dashboard

• On the Trail: Our bike mounts lock your phone on so tight, you'll forget it’s even there

• On the Course: Snap your phone right to the golf cart bar

• In the Garage: Slap your phone on the side of your toolbox

This is the freedom to use your phone everywhere and without fear. Whether you're just looking for S25 accessories or prepping for the S26, we've got the gear.

Let’s wrap this up. The S26 Pro rumor was real. Now, it looks like it's dead, all because a different phone flopped. The story is changing by the day. Stop listening to all the noise. Here's what actually matters: A new Samsung Galaxy S26 is coming, probably in January or February. It’s finally going to have magnetic charging built-in. Apple is building foldable phones and magic batteries. All these new phones are going to be amazing, and they're going to be expensive.

The rumor mill's job is to chase the next story. Our job is to build gear that lasts a lifetime. So, when you finally get that new phone... after you've obsessed over the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 vs S24 Ultra specs... after you've compared the S25 Ultra vs S24 Ultra... after you've waited... Don't just wrap it in a basic case. Protect your investment. Give your phone the armor it deserves. Give it the mounting power it was born for. Whether you bleed Samsung blue or Apple silver, we’ve got your back. Forget the rumors and get something real. Get Rokform.

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