Counterpoint Research says Samsung’s Galaxy S26 family had a solid global start, but the picture was not equally strong in every major market. Based on the firm’s first six weeks of worldwide sell-through data after launch, the overall series was up 13% versus the Galaxy S25 line.
The research note says early demand was especially healthy in Korea and the United States, where the new models posted double-digit growth. In contrast, China sales and demand in Japan were reportedly weaker than what Samsung saw during the comparable launch period for the Galaxy S25 generation.
Jan Stryjak, Counterpoint’s associate director for Europe, said the strongest momentum in the first four weeks came largely from the Galaxy S26 Ultra. He added that the Ultra model reached its highest-ever share of Samsung’s Galaxy S lineup in Europe, showing that premium demand was doing much of the work during the initial release window.
Even so, the report also suggests the pace may already be cooling. Counterpoint noted that by week six, Galaxy S26 sales had slipped below the Galaxy S25 series at the same point in its lifecycle, which leaves open the question of whether Samsung can sustain the early push beyond the launch burst.
The market backdrop may become another variable. Stryjak warned that worsening macro conditions tied to conflict in the Middle East are starting to weigh on consumer demand in that region, which could complicate the sales story as the quarter moves forward.
IT Home also pointed to earlier reporting that Samsung raised its May production targets for the Galaxy S26 and Galaxy S26 Ultra. The standard Galaxy S26 reportedly moved from a plan of about 700,000 units to roughly 1 million units, while the Galaxy S26 Ultra was said to increase from around 1.0 to 1.1 million units to roughly 1.2 to 1.3 million units. Those changes suggest Samsung still sees room for meaningful demand, even as regional performance stays uneven.
