The Galaxy S26 series has had a strong start. According to Counterpoint Research, the lineup outsold its predecessor by 15% during the first six weeks after launch, a meaningful jump that reflects solid demand across several key markets.
Samsung also saw its overall smartphone sales grow by 5% during the same period compared to last year. That’s a notable figure given the headwinds Chinese brands have been facing in the market, suggesting Samsung is holding up well at the brand level.
Where the S26 series performed best
The United States and South Korea were the standout performers, with both markets posting double-digit percentage growth for the Galaxy S26 lineup. Europe told a similar story, with the Galaxy S26 Ultra driving much of the demand across the continent during the first four weeks on sale. In fact, it grabbed the highest share ever within Samsung’s Galaxy S portfolio in Europe. Samsung’s decision to keep prices steady across European markets compared to the S25 series clearly helped.
China and Japan were a different story. Demand in both markets came in weaker than what the Galaxy S25 series managed last year. That’s a concerning sign for Samsung, and it may suggest the brand is gradually losing ground in those regions.
Can it sustain the momentum?
The 15% jump is impressive, but some slowdown was inevitable after the initial launch window. The first six weeks tend to capture most of the pent-up demand from early adopters and existing Samsung fans. What happens in the second half of the year will really tell us whether the Galaxy S26 series can hold its own or whether this was largely a strong opening sprint.
For those curious about what’s running on the new devices, Samsung has also been making some S26-specific features available to older Galaxy phones, which could keep broader engagement with the ecosystem high in the months ahead. Stay tuned for more updates on this.
