Galaxy S26 Ultra Becomes Q2 2026's Best-Selling Android Phone

The best-selling Android phones in any given quarter are usually affordable models. Lower prices naturally put them within reach of more buyers, while premium flagships tend to serve a smaller segment of the market.

That is why the latest global smartphone market share data delivers an interesting surprise. According to Counterpoint Research's Q2 2026 report, the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra became the best-selling Android phone of the quarter, outperforming every other Android device despite its premium price tag of around $1,300.

Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra Leads Android Sales in Q2 2026

The Galaxy S26 Ultra ranked fourth among the world's best-selling smartphones during the second quarter of 2026. The standard Galaxy S26 also made the top 10, securing ninth place.

This represents a notable improvement over the previous generation. In Q2 2025, the Galaxy S25 Ultra reached ninth place, while the standard Galaxy S25 did not appear in the global top 10 at all. The stronger performance of both S26 models suggests that Samsung's latest flagship series had a much bigger impact during this year's quarter.

Why Did the Galaxy S26 Ultra Sell So Well?

Seeing a Samsung flagship lead Android sales is not entirely unusual. However, these devices typically perform best in the first quarter, shortly after their launch.

Q2 2026 was different. Counterpoint Research noted that this was the first time an ultra-premium smartphone had become the top-selling Android phone during the second quarter.

One major factor appears to be Samsung's launch schedule. The Galaxy S26 series arrived later than usual, launching on February 25. According to Counterpoint Research senior analyst Harshit Rastogi, the delayed timing pushed more sales into the second quarter, helping the S26 Ultra maintain strong momentum during this period.

More Samsung Phones Joined the Global Top 10

Samsung's success was not limited to its flagship lineup. Several Galaxy A-series phones also secured places among the world's best-selling smartphones.

The Galaxy A07 4G ranked fifth, followed by the Galaxy A17 5G in sixth place and the Galaxy A17 4G in eighth. This gave Samsung four Android phones in the global top 10 for the quarter.

An interesting detail from Counterpoint's report is that every Galaxy phone on the list offers at least six years of software updates. Long-term software support is becoming an increasingly important consideration for buyers, particularly for people who plan to keep their phones for several years rather than upgrade frequently.

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Apple's iPhone 17 Series Still Dominated the Overall Market

While Samsung's Galaxy S26 Ultra claimed the title of Q2 2026's best-selling Android phone, Apple's iPhone lineup continued to dominate the overall smartphone rankings.

The iPhone 17 took the number one position globally, followed by the iPhone 17 Pro Max in second place and the iPhone 17 Pro in third. The iPhone 16 also remained in the top 10, finishing in tenth place.

Samsung may not have taken the overall number one spot, but the Galaxy S26 Ultra's performance is still significant. A $1,300 flagship becoming the quarter's top-selling Android phone shows that premium smartphones can compete with the volume usually generated by lower-priced devices.

The Galaxy S26 Ultra's Success Could Signal a Shift in Premium Android Demand

The Galaxy S26 Ultra's Q2 2026 performance stands out because it challenges the usual pattern of Android sales. Affordable devices still dominate much of the global market, but this quarter showed that there is substantial demand for high-end phones when timing, product appeal, and market conditions align.

With the standard Galaxy S26 also entering the global top 10 and several affordable Galaxy A-series models performing strongly, Samsung managed to capture buyers across multiple price categories.

For now, the Galaxy S26 Ultra has earned an unusual distinction: it was not just another successful premium phone. In Q2 2026, it became the Android smartphone that more people bought than any other.