Samsung opted for an iterative refresh for the upcoming Galaxy S26 series after Apple instituted a major design change for its iPhone 17 lineup. And, as a result, the South Korean tech behemoth is now reportedly paying the price for its inertia, if the latest tidbits about the series' pre-order cadence are anything to go by.
The current pre-order trajectory for the Galaxy S26 series would make it nearly impossible for Samsung to meet the lineup's annual sales target
According to the tipster Jason C, there is a "perceived lack of interest in the Samsung Galaxy S26 series." Also, as per the tidbit shared by @SPYGO19726, a lot of prospective customers have canceled their pre-orders for the upcoming devices, which would transform Samsung's 34-million-unit annual sales target for the series into an uphill task.
As we noted recently in a dedicated post, the Galaxy S26 Ultra is expected to sport a number of color options, including the stunning Cobalt Violet, Black Shadow, White Shadow, and Galactic Blue. Do note that the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra is expected to debut with rounded edges, a dedicated camera island featuring a triple-camera setup, an all-black color option (including the frame), a USB-C port, an S Pen, and a 5,000mAh battery (some sources have pointed to a 5,200mAh battery).
However, even though it was previously rumored, the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra is now not expected to feature the Qi2 built-in magnets, which would have unlocked an entire ecosystem of MagSafe accessories.
Meanwhile, in what constitutes a new star attraction for the upcoming Galaxy S26 series, Samsung is bringing its Flex Magic Pixel OLED technology to the lineup, enabling what is now being dubbed a 'Privacy Display.' Basically, the technology leverages AI to dim angular viewing angles without affecting the screen brightness for a head-on viewing experience. This would prevent anyone from snooping on your smartphone-related activities from lateral angles.
Finally, here is the camera setup on the upcoming Galaxy S26 Ultra:
- A 12MP IMX874 selfie camera
- A 12MP ISOCELL 3LD S5K3LD 3x telephoto (possibly with a smaller, 1/3.94-inch aperture)
- A single 200MP ISOCELL HP2 main camera (possibly with a brighter f/1.5 aperture)
- A 50MP ISOCELL JN3 or Sony IMX564 ultrawide camera
- A 50MP IMX854 5x periscope camera (possibly with a wider and faster f/2.9 aperture)
Of course, Samsung has chosen to institute material price increases for the largely iterative Galaxy S26 series in what might be a nod to the DRAM-led cost pressures that are permeating the entire industry at the moment. It is hardly a surprise, therefore, that this paradigm is not sitting well with consumers.
As we noted in a dedicated post recently, the base Galaxy S26 is expected to start retailing for 1,254,000 won ($865) in South Korea, which would make it around 99,000 won ($67.60) more expensive than the base Galaxy S25. Similarly, the Galaxy S26 Ultra is expected to start hitting the proverbial shelves at 1,797,000 won ($1,240), which again translates into a price increase of 98,600 won ($67.13) relative to the Galaxy S25 Ultra.
About the author: Writing is my one incontrovertible passion. Over the past six years, he has authored over 2,200 distinct articles on financial and tech-related topics, spanning nearly 1 million words. And he has been a member of Wcctech mobile team since 2025. As an alumnus of the University of Toronto, Rotman Commerce Program, I bring nuance, in-depth knowledge, and a unique perspective to every topic that I cover. When I'm not writing, I'm traveling the world, exploring hidden confectionaries and restaurants as an aspiring food connoisseur.
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