Samsung Electronics' Galaxy S26 series got off to a steady start, posting early sales that slightly outpaced its predecessor.
According to the global weekly smartphone sales report released by Counterpoint Research on Apr. 21, sales of the Galaxy S26 series in the first three weeks after launch rose 2% compared with the Galaxy S25 series over the same period last year.
However, the level of buzz varied widely by region. Early demand was relatively strong in the United States and Korea, but gains were limited in India and China. In particular, U.S. sales increased 29% from the previous model, the most notable trend among major markets. By contrast, competition in Japan and India showed signs of diversifying away from an Apple-centric landscape, as Google strengthened its presence in Japan and Chinese brands did so in India.
Research fellow Im Su-jeong at Counterpoint Research said, "It is positive that the series maintained modest growth despite difficult external conditions, but competitive pressure remains high in markets other than the United States and Korea."
Looking closer at the details, sales in the week just before launch fell 21% from a year earlier, but sales in the first, second and third weeks after launch all surpassed the previous model, marking a rebound. The tilt toward higher-end models also strengthened. The Ultra model accounted for about 71% of S series sales in the first three weeks after launch, up from 61% in the same period for the previous model. In Korea, last month's 1.35 million units in preorders set a new record for the Galaxy S series, a signal supporting the early momentum.