Why is 1.35 million pre-orders in 7 days significant?

The Galaxy S25 needed 11 days to reach 1.3 million pre-orders, while the S26 surpassed that figure in fewer days — representing roughly a 60% higher daily pre-order rate year-over-year. That's genuine demand growth, not just incremental improvement.

Why is Ultra capturing 70% when it costs significantly more?

Last year Ultra claimed 52%; this year it jumped to 70% — suggesting the S26 Ultra's improvements in camera, AI, and design are compelling enough to pull a much larger share of buyers away from the base and Plus models.

Are these numbers relevant to the global market?

South Korea is Samsung's home market and typically the most enthusiastic. The record-breaking numbers came despite strong competition from other flagship offerings, suggesting S26 Ultra's value proposition resonates broadly — though international pre-order figures may look more modest.

Galaxy S26 starts at $899.99, Galaxy S26+ at $1,099.99, and Galaxy S26 Ultra at $1,299.00 for the 256GB base configuration.

What's new in the S26 Ultra over the S25 Ultra?

A full Galaxy S26 Ultra review is available on GSMArena covering what's new, improved, and unchanged in detail. Key headline improvements include a newer chipset, refined camera system, and expanded Galaxy AI capabilities — enough, clearly, to drive record-breaking pre-order demand.

Samsung Galaxy S26 Breaks Pre-Order Record in Korea — 1.35 Million Orders in 7 Days, Ultra Takes 70%

10/03/2026

Samsung Galaxy S26 Series Shatters Pre-Order Record in South Korea — 1.35 Million in Just 7 Days

The Samsung Galaxy S26 series has smashed the pre-order record in South Korea, logging 1.35 million pre-orders between February 27 and March 5, 2026 — just seven days. For comparison, the Galaxy S25 trio last year reached 1.3 million pre-orders in 11 days.

This may be enough to finally dethrone the Galaxy Note10's pre-order achievement from 2019.

S26 Ultra Dominates with 70% Share

The Galaxy S26 Ultra was by far the most popular model, accounting for 70% of all pre-orders — a surprisingly lopsided dominance even for the Ultra tier. Last year, the S25 Ultra made up only 52% of pre-orders.

The Galaxy S26 and S26+ split the remaining 30%, though Samsung did not break down the share between them. Last year things were relatively even — 26% for the S25 and 22% for the S25+ — but both models struggled to attract attention this year despite higher overall demand for the series.

Most Popular Colors

S26 Ultra buyers gravitated toward White and Black. S26+ buyers were a little more adventurous, predominantly choosing Cobalt Violet and Black. The series is available in four base colors plus two Samsung.com exclusive hues.

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