Galaxy S26 pre-order sales prove that specs are no longer king

Samsung’s Galaxy S26 series went on sale today (March 11), and the company says the phones are already off to a strong start. According to Samsung, pre-orders are higher than they were for the Galaxy S25 lineup, giving the new series a solid launch.

The Galaxy S26 Ultra is unsurprisingly leading the charge. Samsung says the Ultra model received the most pre-orders, helped in part by a new feature: a privacy display that can hide sensitive information when the phone is viewed from certain angles.

At the same time, the Galaxy S26 series has faced familiar criticism. Many YouTubers and tech enthusiasts once again accused Samsung of reusing the same hardware.

And to be fair, that criticism isn’t entirely wrong. Samsung has kept the same battery capacities and similar camera hardware for several generations now. Compared to some competitors, especially Chinese brands, the hardware upgrades can feel modest.

But Samsung’s strategy seems to be different. Instead of chasing bigger numbers every year, the company is focusing on improving the overall experience. The Galaxy S26 series launches with new AI features and updated camera software, alongside other software improvements.

Samsung also brought back its Exynos chipset in several regions, something many people thought wouldn’t happen again after a few difficult years. Early signs look positive, although it will take time to see how the chip performs in everyday use.

Still, the feeling among tech enthusiasts is clear: many people want more exciting hardware upgrades.

Samsung’s mobile chief, TM Roh, has repeatedly said the company wants to focus more on optimization than constant hardware changes. In that sense, Samsung is doing exactly what it promised.

But competitors are pushing in the opposite direction. Many Chinese brands continue to focus on bigger batteries, faster charging, and headline-grabbing specs. That naturally raises expectations across the industry.

So does Samsung deserve praise for its approach? From my perspective, not yet. Samsung still hasn’t fully convinced tech enthusiasts that the “experience” it talks about is enough to replace major hardware upgrades.

However, the Galaxy S26’s strong pre-order numbers send a clear message: Samsung remains the number one Android brand, and it has the ability to sell phones based on the overall experience, not just on specs.