It's been a while since we last heard of a box-office achievement pulled off by the Galaxy S26, S26 Plus, and S26 Ultra, and although that type of silence is generally not a good sign for a high-end handset lineup everyone expects to sell like hotcakes around the world, this particular case is apparently the exception to the rule.
That's because it is now reported that the S26 trio is indeed selling very well by any standards (including if we compare it to last year's Galaxy S25 series), at least in one market that's always considered crucial by Samsung for fairly obvious reasons.
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If you go back to August 2025 and remember that the S25, S25 Plus, and S25 Ultra were estimated to have sold a combined 22.7 million units worldwide in their first six months or so of availability, you might find it difficult to have your mind blown by a seemingly modest 3 million shipment tally now for the sequels to those three super-premium smartphones.
The S26 Ultra is clearly way more popular than the S25 Ultra. | Image by PhoneArena
But you obviously need to put this new number into the right context and compare it to what the S25 family managed to do in South Korea last year. Yes, the three million units were racked up by the S26, S26 Plus, and S26 Ultra in Samsung's homeland alone between March 11 and July 7.
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In contrast, it took the Galaxy S25 trio from February 7 to early August last year to achieve the same domestic sales total, so clearly, S26 series demand is a lot stronger (at least in South Korea), maintaining and even exceeding an early pace that saw the new phones (narrowly) beat their predecessors in regional pre-orders.
Why do you think the Galaxy S26 family is so popular?
Because the phones are reasonably priced.
8.5%
Because no one wants to wait for the S27 family.
13.36%
Because the S25 family was not that great.
7.69%
Because of the S26 Ultra's Privacy Display.
24.7%
All of the above.
17.41%
None of the above.
5.67%
I don't think the S26 family is THAT popular.
22.67%
247 Votes
The Galaxy S26 Ultra also continues to domestically outsell its little (and slightly more affordable brothers), and although there are no specific new numbers to confirm the family's global success, all export signs point to the phones selling like hotcakes outside of South Korea as well.
Galaxy S27 rumors are doing the S26 series a world of good
You know how a phone (or three) is typically negatively impacted by the imminence of its sequel? That may not be the case for the Galaxy S26 lineup, which is reportedly benefitting from intensifying gossip of the rapidly approaching Galaxy S27trio quartet.
Yes, the S27 series will probably improve on the S26 family, but at what cost? | Image by PhoneArena
That's because the S27 family is widely expected to be considerably costlier than the S26 series, so a lot of potential buyers of next year's Samsung flagships are "settling" for a 2026 high-ender, fearing they won't be able to afford a new handset in early 2027.
Does this guarantee the Galaxy S27 family will be a flop?
Not necessarily. At least not yet. After all, the Galaxy S series has gone through many different trials and tribulations over the years, and I'm not sure if you can call any of Samsung's flagships released this past decade or so a box-office failure.
Granted, there is a very distinct possibility that the Galaxy S27 lineup will prove less successful than the S26 trio and even the S25 family, especially if Samsung doesn't manage to contain the prices of its next-gen powerhouses.
But it's far too early to be certain of that or try to predict the differences in sales numbers between next year's S27 and this year's S26 series. What's crystal clear is that the world's number two smartphone vendor has to be really, really careful about the upgrades and changes it plans to implement into its 2027 flagships and how those will influence retail prices at this very delicate time for the entire mobile industry from that particular standpoint.
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Adrian, a mobile technology enthusiast since the Nokia 3310 era, has been a dynamic presence in the tech journalism field, contributing to Android Authority, Digital Trends, and Pocketnow before joining PhoneArena in 2018. His expertise spans across various platforms, with a particular fondness for the diversity of the Android ecosystem. Despite the challenges of balancing full-time parenthood with his work, Adrian's passion for tech trends, running, and movies keeps him energized. His commitment to mid-range smartphones has led to an eclectic collection of devices, saved from personal bankruptcy by his preference for 'adequate' over 'overpriced'.
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