What you need to know
- Samsung’s Galaxy S26 series opened 15% stronger than the Galaxy S25 in its first six weeks, with overall Samsung smartphone sales also climbing 5%, according to Counterpoint Research.
- The Galaxy S26 Ultra is driving most of the demand, reportedly making up around 70% of pre-orders thanks to exclusive features and upgraded AI tools.
- However, Samsung’s momentum may already be cooling after week six as higher prices start pushing buyers away.
Samsung’s Galaxy S26 series is off to a better start than the Galaxy S25 ever was, but there is already a caveat lurking behind those impressive figures. Early sales are ticking higher, notably in the U.S. and South Korea, but a new report indicates that Samsung’s momentum may already be faltering as higher prices start to deter buyers.
Market analytics firm Counterpoint Research has published fresh data indicating that cumulative Galaxy S26 sales in the first six weeks post-launch were roughly 15% ahead of the Galaxy S25 lineup during the same period last year. At the same time, Samsung’s overall smartphone sales during the launch window also rose 5%, the report said.
It’s already a big win for Samsung at a time when the wider smartphone market is under pressure from rising component costs, weaker consumer spending, and slower upgrade cycles.
It appears that the Galaxy S26 Ultra is pulling most of the weight here as well. Previous reports indicated that the Ultra accounted for around 70% of pre-orders in key markets, such as South Korea, thanks to exclusive features like Samsung’s new Privacy Display and enhanced AI tools.
Counterpoint’s figures suggest the Galaxy S26 family is doing especially well in the U.S. and South Korea. In America, sales reportedly have risen almost 30% over the Galaxy S25 series during the same early period.
Momentum hit a wall after week six
But Samsung’s flagship sales began to slow down after the sixth week, with the sell-through rates falling behind the Galaxy S25’s pace.
Samsung raised the prices of some Galaxy S26 models this year, with the base Galaxy S26 and S26 Plus going up by $100 in certain regions. The company attributed the increases primarily to soaring memory costs and broader supply chain pressures.
That said, you get more out of the box, with 256GB of base storage instead of 128GB on some models, plus the usual refinements like improved cooling, upgraded Galaxy AI features, and better battery efficiency. Nevertheless, the overall hardware leap from the Galaxy S25 series hasn’t been exactly dramatic.
Samsung also doesn’t exactly work in a comfortable market. The company is already in internal “crisis mode” for parts of its device business, with margins shrinking and production costs rising, Korean reports say. Memory prices alone have reportedly soared as AI firms continue to battle for supply.
Currently, the Galaxy S26 series is generally better than its predecessor, and that’s not something Samsung will complain about. The bigger question is whether the company can sustain that momentum for the rest of the year — especially when the price of admission keeps rising and the upgrades are getting smaller.
Android Central’s Take
The Galaxy S26’s robust launch is a testament to the strength of its ecosystem and brand loyalty. People clearly still trust Samsung to deliver polished hardware, long software support, and reliable cameras, and those things absolutely are relevant for the everyday user. But it’s getting harder to ignore the rising prices as the upgrades feel increasingly safe. At some point, Samsung will need to do more than just buff the edges and sprinkle AI everywhere if it wants people to keep upgrading without feeling like they’re paying extra for the same phone in a slightly different outfit.
