Driven by massive demand for the Ultra model and new on-device AI features, Samsung's latest flagship is tracking to beat the historic 1.3 million pre-order mark set by the S25.

Samsung’s Galaxy S26 series is seeing unprecedented pre-order momentum in South Korea, tracking to break the all-time record set by its predecessor. According to telecom industry sources, pre-order volumes are rapidly approaching the historic high for the Galaxy S lineup.

Carriers report that S26 reservations are noticeably outpacing the Galaxy S25, which previously set the high-water mark at approximately 1.3 million units. Industry insiders increasingly believe the new flagship is on the verge of setting a new standard. While final numbers are still under wraps, carrier representatives indicate the premium Ultra variant is heavily dominating the order mix.

Speaking at MWC 2026 in Barcelona, Lim Sung Taek, Vice President of Samsung Electronics' mobile business in South Korea, confirmed the strong start. He noted that S26 series sales are up roughly 15% compared to the previous generation, with the Ultra accounting for a staggering 70% of early volume.

With the pre-order window remaining open until March 5, 2026, the final tally is expected to climb even higher before the official retail launch on March 11.

Analysts attribute the surge to a perfect storm of market conditions and compelling hardware. With carrier inventories of the S25 nearly depleted, pent-up upgrade demand has naturally shifted to the newest generation.

Under the hood, the S26 series is drawing consumers with substantial upgrades. The lineup boasts enhanced cameras, better battery efficiency, and on-device Agentic AI capabilities that bring advanced, autonomous processing directly to the smartphone. The Ultra model is further distinguished by an exclusive Privacy Display.

One carrier representative noted that the conversion rate from reservation to actual purchase has been exceptionally high since day one. "Features like the advanced AI experiences, display privacy, and tangible everyday improvements are really driving users to upgrade," the representative said.

Looking ahead, Samsung plans to leverage the S26's momentum to solidify its dominance in the premium tier. In the second half of the year, the tech giant aims to trickle down its mobile AI features to the Galaxy A series, making the technology accessible to a broader audience.