Samsung reports a 25% increase in pre-orders for the Galaxy S26 series in the US, with the Ultra model capturing 80% of all orders. This marks a more extreme split than in Korea, where the Ultra held 70% of pre-orders. The company credits the Privacy Display and AI features like Nightography and Generative Edit for driving Ultra demand.

Pre-orders end today, offering customers free storage upgrades and up to $900 in trade-in credits. While the S26 Ultra dominates, the combined 20% share for the standard S26 and S26+ raises questions about consumer preferences. Samsung's affiliate pricing shows the Ultra starting at €1,449 for 256GB, with the S26+ and S26 at lower price points.

The skewed pre-order distribution suggests strong consumer appetite for premium features, particularly the Privacy Display. As reviews roll out, including detailed coverage of the Privacy Display technology, Samsung's strategy of focusing on flagship innovations appears to be paying off in the competitive US smartphone market.