The Galaxy S26 collection was launched within the first quarter of 2026, however the highest-end mannequin within the collection was not the best-selling Samsung telephone throughout the interval. The Galaxy S26 Extremely is probably the most feature-rich flagship mannequin of the Galaxy S26 collection, that includes an S Pen stylus and an unique Privateness Show function, but it surely’s additionally the most costly, beginning at $1,299.99. In keeping with Counterpoint Analysis’s market evaluation for the primary quarter of 2026, Samsung’s most cost-effective Galaxy A telephones outsold the Galaxy S26 Extremely throughout the interval.
The Galaxy S26 Extremely “narrowly missed the highest 10 listing” in response to the analysts. The highest 10, led by three iPhone 17 collection fashions, contained 5 different Samsung telephones, together with the Galaxy A07, Galaxy A17 5G, Galaxy A56, Galaxy A36, and Galaxy A17 4G. The gross sales efficiency of Samsung’s Galaxy S26 Extremely could seem shocking, but it surely’s not an exception. This is not the primary 12 months that Samsung’s flagships have did not outperform the extra inexpensive Galaxy A handsets.
Counterpoint Analysis additionally confirmed that the Galaxy A16 and Galaxy A06 outsold the Galaxy S25 Extremely in Q1 2025. The Galaxy S24 Extremely was an exception, rating greater than the Galaxy A15, Galaxy A54, Galaxy S24, and Galaxy A05 a 12 months earlier. In Q1 2023, the Galaxy S23 Extremely ranked sixth in the identical high 10, with the Galaxy A13 collection coming in fifth. That high 10 included the Galaxy A04e, the Galaxy A14 5G, and the Galaxy A53. Counterpoint Analysis launched figures for the month of April in 2022 that confirmed the Galaxy S22 Extremely was the preferred Samsung Android telephone of that interval, with out sharing a report for the primary quarter of that 12 months. In Q1 2021, the Galaxy S21 Extremely wasn’t within the high 10.
Why do Galaxy S Extremely flagships promote worse than Galaxy A fashions?
Like Apple, Samsung would not disclose smartphone figures by mannequin when reporting quarterly earnings. However market analysis studies like those Counterpoint Analysis releases frequently mirror Samsung’s broad technique. Not like Apple, Samsung releases a wide range of Galaxy smartphones at varied value factors to satisfy the wants of a broad market. The Galaxy A07 that outsold the Galaxy S26 Extremely prices underneath $100, concentrating on customers in rising markets like India. Counterpoint Analysis notes that the Center East, Africa, and Latin America had been the primary markets contributing to the Galaxy A07’s reputation throughout the quarter.
Comparatively, Apple manufactures solely high-end iPhones annually, a lot of which normally outsell all opponents throughout the Q1 quarter, together with these inexpensive Galaxy A fashions that promote higher than Samsung’s finest Galaxy S handsets. Apple would not cater to the identical consumers Samsung does, which can be one more reason why Samsung is ready to seize a big share of the market with inexpensive Galaxy A handsets. Samsung is pursuing shoppers who will ignore costly iPhone and Galaxy S units.
Different elements might also affect these Q1 rankings, together with Samsung’s launch timing. The Galaxy S26 collection was unveiled in late February, a couple of month later than its predecessor. Whereas the Galaxy S26 Extremely outsold the Galaxy S25 Extremely initially, in response to Counterpoint Analysis knowledge, it was on sale for a shorter time throughout the first quarter of 2026 than the Galaxy A07, which was launched in August 2025. The Galaxy S24 Extremely was launched in mid-January 2024, which might clarify why the handset outsold Galaxy A fashions within the first quarter of 2024. Additionally, the Galaxy S24 collection was the primary to function the Galaxy AI platform, which can have generated further curiosity.
