The Galaxy S26 is almost a week away from officially hitting retail stores, but it already appears to be a huge success for Samsung, at least in its home country. The company says first-week preorders for the Galaxy S26 have surpassed those of its previous flagships.
Despite modest upgrades, Samsung saw stronger consumer interest in the Galaxy S24 lineup. That same trend continued with the Galaxy S25 family in 2025, with its preorder and total sales of the year surpassing those of the S24. Now, it appears the Galaxy S26 will continue that trend.
Just over a week after Galaxy S26 preorders opened, Samsung says it has received 1.35 million orders in South Korea, its home market (via Yonhap News). That’s higher than any of Samsung’s previous flagship phones. For comparison, the S25 series received 1.3 million preorders in the same timeframe in 2025.
Even better for Samsung, the Galaxy S26 Ultra proved the most popular model, accounting for about 70% of total preorders so far. This also marks the highest preorder share the company has ever seen for an Ultra model.
All three major South Korean carriers — SK Telecom, LG Uplus, and KT — have also seen strong consumer interest in the S26 lineup, with the majority of customers opting for the Ultra model.
A key reason behind the strong Galaxy S26 preorders in South Korea is Samsung’s New Galaxy AI Subscription Club. More than 30% of buyers joined the program, which allows them to pay for the phone through monthly payments while bundling additional perks such as Samsung Care+ and accidental damage coverage.
Galaxy S26 could be Samsung’s best-selling flagship ever
While the Galaxy S26 will hit retail stores on March 11, Samsung will start delivering preorders from as early as March 6.
Besides the usual yearly upgrades like a faster chip, the Galaxy S26 Ultra’s standout feature is its Privacy Display. It masks on-screen content from side viewing angles, helping prevent prying eyes from seeing sensitive information.
Other upgrades include faster 60W wired charging, a wider aperture for the primary and telephoto cameras for better low-light performance, and new AI features.
Based on the strong initial preorder demand, the Galaxy S26’s total sales figure may surpass Samsung’s previous best flagship phones.
