Samsung’s Galaxy S26 series outsold the S25 by 29% over its first three weeks

Source: 9to5Google

Samsung Galaxy S26 sales performance

2026 is shaping up to be a rocky year for smartphone brands, largely due to the ongoing crisis over RAM and storage availability. However, early Galaxy S26 sales numbers tell a different story, showing strong demand for Samsung’s latest trio of flagships.

According to new findings from Counterpoint Research, Samsung—alongside new devices from Google and Apple—helped breathe new life into a sluggish smartphone market. While the iPhone 17e and, to a lesser extent, the Pixel 10a contributed to the boost, it’s Samsung’s Galaxy S26 lineup that truly stands out.

• Over the first three weeks of sales, the S26 series moved 29 % more units than its direct predecessor did in its own three‑week debut.
• 71 % of consumers opted for the top‑tier Galaxy S26 Ultra.
• Much of that growth appears to come from typical Plus buyers, who may have seen the price increase as an easy sell to move up‑market.

Counterpoint also points to strong deals on the Ultra—specifically from AT&T and T‑Mobile—as reasons for consumers flocking to Samsung’s $1,300 smartphone, alongside its very cool (and only semi‑controversial) Privacy Display.

Overall, S26 demand has been up year‑over‑year since its initial debut, with strong pre‑order sales that suggest the company’s move back to a March release date helped drum up interest.

It’s good news for Samsung and the entire mobile market, which saw 5 % growth compared to 2025 in the weeks following these three launches. Prices are already increasing on existing hardware—Samsung itself is pushing price hikes—which could also be prompting shoppers to upgrade at launch to avoid future price increases.

The outlook for the rest of the year remains uncertain, with upcoming launches like the Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Pixel 11, but if those phones launch with typical pricing, similar growth over their predecessors would not be surprising.