Samsung has officially launched the Galaxy S26 series worldwide, ending the pre-order phase that followed the smartphones’ unveiling at the Galaxy Unpacked event last month. With global sales now underway, Samsung has also revealed that the new flagship lineup achieved record-breaking demand during the early pre-order period.
According to the company, pre-orders for the Galaxy S26 lineup increased by double digits compared with previous Galaxy launches. The early demand highlights the growing interest in Samsung’s latest premium smartphones and suggests strong global sales momentum for the series.
The most notable performer in the lineup is the Galaxy S26 Ultra. Samsung confirmed that the Ultra model alone accounted for more than 70% of total pre-orders worldwide. This makes it the clear favorite among buyers and significantly more popular than the other two models in the series.
Earlier reports from South Korea’s Yonhap News Agency had indicated a similar trend during the domestic pre-order phase. The newly released global figures further confirm that customers are increasingly choosing Samsung’s most advanced flagship model over the standard and Plus versions.
For comparison, the Galaxy S25 Ultra represented about 52% of total pre-orders when the Galaxy S25 lineup launched last year. The jump to over 70% for the Galaxy S26 Ultra marks a major shift in consumer preference toward Samsung’s highest-end device.
Several factors may explain the strong demand for the Ultra model. One key difference lies in the chipset. The Galaxy S26 Ultra is powered by the flagship Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy processor, while the standard Galaxy S26 and Galaxy S26 Plus rely on Samsung’s Exynos 2600 chipset in certain markets outside the United States.
Another major advantage is the hardware feature set. The Galaxy S26 Ultra is the only model in the lineup equipped with Samsung’s new Privacy Display technology. This feature reduces screen visibility from side angles, helping protect sensitive information from nearby viewers.
With pre-orders now complete, the Galaxy S26, Galaxy S26 Plus, and Galaxy S26 Ultra are widely available starting today. The smartphones come in several standard colors including Cobalt Violet, White, Black, and Sky Blue, while Samsung’s online store also offers exclusive shades such as Pink Gold and Silver Shadow.
Samsung has also released the Galaxy Buds 4 lineup globally, including the Galaxy Buds 4 and Galaxy Buds 4 Pro wireless earbuds.