Samsung Galaxy S26 Series Sets New Pre-Order Records: Ultra Model Captures 70 Percent of Sales

The Samsung Galaxy S26 series is proving to be a monumental success even before its official retail launch on March 11, 2026. With pre-orders surging in South Korea, Samsung has reported 1.35 million units ordered in the first week, marking a 15 percent increase over the Galaxy S25 series' 1.3 million pre-orders from the previous year. This strong demand underscores the series' appeal, driven by innovative features and aggressive promotions.

Among the lineup, the Galaxy S26 Ultra stands out as the clear favorite, accounting for approximately 70 percent of all pre-orders. This is the highest share ever recorded for an Ultra model in Samsung's history, potentially setting a new benchmark. Im Sung-taek, Executive Vice President and Head of Samsung Electronics Korea, remarked, "Galaxy S26 series sales have increased approximately 15 percent compared to the previous model, with the Ultra model accounting for 70 percent of that figure. This may well be a Guinness world record."

The enthusiasm is echoed across South Korea's major carriers, including SK Telecom, LG Uplus, and KT, where the majority of customers are opting for the Ultra variant. A significant factor contributing to this surge is Samsung's New Galaxy AI Subscription Club, which has attracted over 30 percent of buyers. This program offers monthly payment options bundled with perks like Samsung Care+ and accidental damage coverage.

What makes the Galaxy S26 Ultra so compelling? It boasts groundbreaking features such as the world's first Privacy Display, which adjusts viewing angles to prevent side-view snooping and can be customized for specific apps. Powered by a custom Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset in select markets (or Exynos 2600 in others), it delivers faster Galaxy AI processing. New AI enhancements include Mobile Agentic AI for everyday utility, Now Nudge for calendar conflict alerts, an upgraded Circle to Search for multi-element queries, and Super Clear Calls when paired with Galaxy Buds 4.

Hardware upgrades further elevate the series: faster 60W wired charging, wider camera apertures for improved low-light photography, an AI-powered Visual Perception System (VPS) that enhances image processing and efficiency by over 50 percent, and One UI 8.5 for a smarter user interface. The lineup also features a 2nm processor and a 4300mAh battery in the base model.

Color preferences reveal consumer tastes: white and black dominate for the Galaxy S26 Ultra and base S26, while black and cobalt purple lead for the S26 Plus.

Pricing starts at $899 for the Galaxy S26, $1,099 for the S26 Plus, and $1,299 for the Ultra. Pre-order deals are enticing, with trade-in credits up to $900, free Galaxy Buds 4, and discounts on accessories like Galaxy Watches and Buds Pro. Early deliveries begin as soon as March 6 for pre-order customers.