Samsung’s Galaxy S26 series is moving far faster in South Korea than its predecessors, reaching 3 million units sold in just 118 days. That pace puts the new flagship line well ahead of the Galaxy S25, which needed about six months to hit the same milestone.
The early momentum was visible before launch demand even cooled. In only 7 days, the Galaxy S26 series collected 1.35 million pre-orders in South Korea, topping the Galaxy S25’s 1.3 million pre-orders even though that earlier model had a longer 11-day pre-order window.
Galaxy S26 Ultra drives most of the demand
Among the three models, the Galaxy S26 Ultra is the clear sales leader. According to www.gsmarena.com, the Ultra accounted for 70% of total pre-orders, leaving the Galaxy S26 and Galaxy S26+ to share the remaining 30%.
| Series | Time to Reach 3 Million Units | Pre-orders in South Korea |
|---|---|---|
| Galaxy S26 series | 118 days | 1.35 million in 7 days |
| Galaxy S25 series | About 6 months | 1.3 million in 11 days |
| Galaxy S24 series | 2 months longer than the S25 | Not stated |
Demand is also showing up in export numbers
The strong local appetite is also being reflected in South Korea’s wireless communication device exports. The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy said June exports reached $1.55 billion, up 51.9% from June 2025.
For the first half of the year, total exports came to $9.9 billion, an increase of 31.5% compared with H1 2025. The ministry said that positive growth was supported by strong sales of the Galaxy S26 series, which launched in the first quarter.
Samsung has also raised its July production target for the Galaxy S26 from 1 million units to 1.5 million units. The increase reflects sustained domestic demand and fast-moving inventory.
Promotions and pricing concerns are keeping buyers interested
Samsung ran the “Samsung Electronics Appreciation Festival with the People” sales campaign from June 8 to July 5. During that period, buyers received 20% of what they spent back in the form of digital gift certificates.
Alongside the promotion, there is growing concern that the Galaxy S27 series may be priced higher. That combination has pushed many South Korean consumers toward the Galaxy S26, and sales on Samsung.com and open markets reportedly tripled.
The surge in demand has also affected delivery times. For the Galaxy S26 Ultra, shipping has already slipped to August.
More production changes may still follow
Samsung is expected to keep the Galaxy S26 series strong through the third quarter of 2026, but the company plans to review production targets again in August. That assessment will depend on sales trends and inventory levels.
The review is also tied to the Galaxy Z foldables scheduled for announcement on July 22, including a wider new foldable model. Pre-reservations for those devices have already begun, and Samsung appears focused on aligning S26 output with the wider product cycle.
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra 5G, Samsung Galaxy S26+ 5G, and Samsung Galaxy S26 5G remain the main models in the lineup as the company balances demand, supply, and its next round of launches.