What Samsung is targeting
Samsung supposedly points to offer almost 35 million units of the World S26 arrangement in 2026.
Android Headlines
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9to5Google
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They are clearly arranging to move almost 24 million units in the to begin with half of the year.
Wccftech
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For setting, Samsung sold ~22 million units of the earlier arrangement (System S25) in the to begin with half of its dispatch.
Android Headlines
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Beyond fair the S-series, Samsung’s versatile (MX) division is pointing for around 240 million smartphones and 27 million tablets in 2026 in add up to, interpreting to generally KRW 130 trillion (~US$90 billion) in income.
Wccftech
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A key driver behind this projection is Samsung putting overwhelming accentuation on AI-powered highlights (on-device and benefit side) and hoisting its foldable fragment into standard lead status.
9to5Google
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Why Samsung accepts this is achievable
Focus on AI features
Samsung freely recognizes that next-gen AI is central to the World S26 story: the gadgets are anticipated to “revolutionize the client involvement with user-centric, next-gen AI” as per a Samsung official.
TechRadar
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LOS40
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The procedure appears pointed at separating in a swarmed lead showcase by underscoring “AI phone” situating: more brilliant cameras, on-device preparing, modern interaction ideal models. Samsung trusts this will drive overhaul request.
9to5Google
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Upgrading the lead narrative
The S-series has long been a column of Samsung’s premium smartphone volume. By setting a higher target, they flag certainty in both the brand and the highlight set to drag more buyers.
With foldables getting to be more able and fetched successful, Samsung is treating them less as specialty and more as center premium offerings — this makes a difference the in general corona of the System environment (which may too nourish back into S-series deals).
Android Headlines
Market timing & positioning
Flagship smartphones are in an curiously transitional minute: equipment enhancements are still important (particularly around cameras, shows, chips, AI) and the overhaul cycle may be prepared (clients holding more seasoned phones are looking to move). Samsung may be trusting to capitalize some time recently the lull sets in.
The proposed dispatch timeline (late February / early Walk 2026) gives them a solid begin to the year, ahead of numerous competitors.
Sammy Fans
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How reasonable is the target?
Supporting factors
If Samsung’s promoting, dissemination and highlight set convey — particularly around standout AI capabilities — at that point a bump over the past era is plausible.
The brand has solid worldwide reach, carrier connections, and an environment of embellishments and administrations which offer assistance premium gadget adoption.
The broader premium smartphone showcase may advantage from boost: e.g., more rich customers updating, carriers pushing trade-in offers, rising markets steadily upgrading.
Potential headwinds / risks
Price weight & component fetched expansion: One examination focuses out that whereas Samsung targets 35 million units, component costs (APs, Measure, camera modules) are rising essentially, which may press edges or drive higher retail costs – which might hose request.
Wccftech
Feature separation: If the Universe S26 arrangement does not offer adequately compelling enhancements over the S25 (or if AI highlights turn out to be more showcasing than substance), at that point buyers may delay updates. A few reports recommend negligible overhauls for base models.
Sam Mobile
Macro / showcase components: Worldwide financial delicateness, money variances (Samsung’s income target employments KRW), supply chain disturbances, and competitive weight (from China brands, Apple, etc) may influence volume.
Saturation of lead fragment: The premium smartphone showcase is develop. Persuading clients to overhaul is progressively around refinements and administrations or maybe than sensational jumps. Indeed with solid highlights, accomplishing a expansive volume increment is harder.
Pricing discernment: If Samsung increments cost to balanced fetched swelling, that may harmed volume. Alternately, if they keep cost level, edges may endure. Samsung shows up to be juggling this pressure.
Wccftech
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Key suspicions supporting the target
The S26 arrangement must without a doubt convey standout AI-features that make a compelling reason to update (either for modern buyers or existing Samsung customers).
The item must dispatch in a opportune mold (early 2026) and use worldwide roll-out productively, guaranteeing wide accessibility and promotion.
The advertise environment must permit for solid premium-device deals (e.g., trade-in motivating forces great, buyers willing to spend, carriers supportive).
Samsung must oversee costs and estimating so that the margin/volume condition works — entering 35 M units suggests the ASP (normal offering cost) remains at a tall sufficient level to keep up profitability.
Brand quality and biological system (counting Samsung administrations, adornments, Universe AI highlights) must offer assistance drag buyers over match alternatives.
Suggestions & what to watch
For competitors: Samsung raising its target will likely increment competitive weight. Others will require to incline their AI and premium leads accordingly.
For customers: If the S26 arrangement is without a doubt intensely AI-oriented, this seem cruel more progressed camera highlights, more intelligent intelligent, conceivably on-device preparing for assignments nowadays generally cloud-based. But whether that interprets into real-world significant benefits remains to be seen.
For developers/services: An expanded center on “AI phone” implies Samsung may energize more AI-centric apps, integrative, administrations — for case, more on-device AI, more brilliant associates, way better camera preparing, etc.
For investors/market watchers: Assembly a 35 million-unit target (furthermore the broader 240 million smartphone / US$90 billion income objective) would stamp a solid turnaround for Samsung’s versatile trade, which has confronted margin/volume challenges in later a long time. But disappointment to meet those targets may raise concerns approximately vital execution and competitive positioning.
My take
In my see, Samsung’s 35 million unit target is yearning but faultless, given a few favorable conditions adjust. The strength of the target signals certainty and acts as a key explanation: Samsung needs to make the S-series central to its another development stage, secured by AI.
However, aspiration doesn’t ensure execution. A few caveats I’d keep in mind:
The highlight overhaul truly needs to feel important to customers. With each passing year, incremental overhauls get harder to offer. If the AI highlights are “nice but not game-changing”, the target might be optimistic.
Global cost affectability is genuine. If customers feel the unused phones taken a toll as well much relative to past era picks up, that harms volume.
Supply chain / fetched weights might constrain higher ASPs or slimmer edges, both of which may restrain Samsung’s adaptability in advancements and worldwide pricing.
The “second brilliant age” dialect (utilized in reports) sets tall desires. If early deals or surveys disillusion, it may harmed energy for the year (particularly if the first-half target of 24 million is missed).
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