Framesira/Shutterstock The Galaxy S26 series launched in the first quarter of 2026, but the high-end model in the series was not Samsung’s best-selling phone during the period. The Galaxy S26 Ultra is the most feature-rich flagship model in the Galaxy S26 series, featuring an S Pen and an exclusive Privacy View feature, but it’s also the most expensive, starting at $1,299.99. According to Counterpoint Research’s market analysis for the first quarter of 2026, Samsung’s cheapest Galaxy A phones outsold the Galaxy S26 Ultra during the period. The Galaxy S26 Ultra “narrowly missed the top 10” according to analysts. The top 10, led by three iPhone 17 series models, contained five other Samsung phones, including the Galaxy A07, Galaxy A17 5G, Galaxy A56, Galaxy A36 and Galaxy A17 4G. The sales performance of Samsung’s Galaxy S26 Ultra may seem surprising, but it is no exception. This isn’t the first year that Samsung’s flagships have failed to outperform the more affordable Galaxy A handsets. Counterpoint Research also showed that the Galaxy A16 and Galaxy A06 outsold the Galaxy S25 Ultra in the first quarter of 2025. The Galaxy S24 Ultra was an exception, ranking higher than the Galaxy A15, Galaxy A54, Galaxy S24, and Galaxy A05 a year earlier. In the first quarter of 2023, the Galaxy S23 Ultra ranked sixth in the same top 10, while the Galaxy A13 series came in fifth. This top 10 included the Galaxy A04e, Galaxy A14 5G and Galaxy A53. Counterpoint Research released figures for April 2022 that showed the Galaxy S22 Ultra to be the most popular Samsung Android phone in that period, without sharing a report for the first quarter of this year. In the first quarter of 2021, the Galaxy S21 Ultra was not in the top 10. Why are Galaxy S Ultra flagships selling worse than Galaxy A models? Like Apple, Samsung does not disclose smartphone figures by model when publishing its quarterly results. But market research reports like those published by Counterpoint Research regularly reflect Samsung’s overall strategy. Unlike Apple, Samsung offers a variety of Galaxy smartphones at different price points to meet the needs of a large market. The Galaxy A07, which outsold the Galaxy S26 Ultra, costs less than $100 and targets users in emerging markets like India. Counterpoint Research notes that the Middle East, Africa and Latin America are the main markets that contributed to the popularity of the Galaxy A07 during the quarter. By comparison, Apple only makes high-end iPhones each year, many of which typically outperform all competitors in the first quarter, including affordable Galaxy A models that outsell Samsung’s top Galaxy S handsets. Apple doesn’t cater to the same buyers as Samsung, which may be another reason why Samsung is able to capture a significant share of the market with affordable Galaxy A handsets. Samsung is chasing consumers who will ignore expensive iPhone and Galaxy S devices. Other factors may also influence this first quarter ranking, including Samsung’s launch schedule. The Galaxy S26 series was revealed in late February, about a month later than its predecessor. While the Galaxy S26 Ultra initially outsold the Galaxy S25 Ultra, according to Counterpoint Research data, it was on sale for a shorter period during the first quarter of 2026 than the Galaxy A07, which launched in August 2025. The Galaxy S24 Ultra was launched in mid-January 2024, which may explain why the handset outsold the Galaxy A models in the first quarter of 2024. Additionally, the Galaxy S24 series was the first to feature the Galaxy AI platform, which may have sparked additional interest. Post navigation RedMagic 11 Air Review: The Slim Phone for Gamers
Framesira/Shutterstock The Galaxy S26 series launched in the first quarter of 2026, but the high-end model in the series was not Samsung’s best-selling phone during the period. The Galaxy S26 Ultra is the most feature-rich flagship model in the Galaxy S26 series, featuring an S Pen and an exclusive Privacy View feature, but it’s also the most expensive, starting at $1,299.99. According to Counterpoint Research’s market analysis for the first quarter of 2026, Samsung’s cheapest Galaxy A phones outsold the Galaxy S26 Ultra during the period. The Galaxy S26 Ultra “narrowly missed the top 10” according to analysts. The top 10, led by three iPhone 17 series models, contained five other Samsung phones, including the Galaxy A07, Galaxy A17 5G, Galaxy A56, Galaxy A36 and Galaxy A17 4G. The sales performance of Samsung’s Galaxy S26 Ultra may seem surprising, but it is no exception. This isn’t the first year that Samsung’s flagships have failed to outperform the more affordable Galaxy A handsets. Counterpoint Research also showed that the Galaxy A16 and Galaxy A06 outsold the Galaxy S25 Ultra in the first quarter of 2025. The Galaxy S24 Ultra was an exception, ranking higher than the Galaxy A15, Galaxy A54, Galaxy S24, and Galaxy A05 a year earlier. In the first quarter of 2023, the Galaxy S23 Ultra ranked sixth in the same top 10, while the Galaxy A13 series came in fifth. This top 10 included the Galaxy A04e, Galaxy A14 5G and Galaxy A53. Counterpoint Research released figures for April 2022 that showed the Galaxy S22 Ultra to be the most popular Samsung Android phone in that period, without sharing a report for the first quarter of this year. In the first quarter of 2021, the Galaxy S21 Ultra was not in the top 10. Why are Galaxy S Ultra flagships selling worse than Galaxy A models? Like Apple, Samsung does not disclose smartphone figures by model when publishing its quarterly results. But market research reports like those published by Counterpoint Research regularly reflect Samsung’s overall strategy. Unlike Apple, Samsung offers a variety of Galaxy smartphones at different price points to meet the needs of a large market. The Galaxy A07, which outsold the Galaxy S26 Ultra, costs less than $100 and targets users in emerging markets like India. Counterpoint Research notes that the Middle East, Africa and Latin America are the main markets that contributed to the popularity of the Galaxy A07 during the quarter. By comparison, Apple only makes high-end iPhones each year, many of which typically outperform all competitors in the first quarter, including affordable Galaxy A models that outsell Samsung’s top Galaxy S handsets. Apple doesn’t cater to the same buyers as Samsung, which may be another reason why Samsung is able to capture a significant share of the market with affordable Galaxy A handsets. Samsung is chasing consumers who will ignore expensive iPhone and Galaxy S devices. Other factors may also influence this first quarter ranking, including Samsung’s launch schedule. The Galaxy S26 series was revealed in late February, about a month later than its predecessor. While the Galaxy S26 Ultra initially outsold the Galaxy S25 Ultra, according to Counterpoint Research data, it was on sale for a shorter period during the first quarter of 2026 than the Galaxy A07, which launched in August 2025. The Galaxy S24 Ultra was launched in mid-January 2024, which may explain why the handset outsold the Galaxy A models in the first quarter of 2024. Additionally, the Galaxy S24 series was the first to feature the Galaxy AI platform, which may have sparked additional interest.
