Samsung Galaxy S25 Hits 3M Sales in Korea, AI Subscription Drives Success
Galaxy S25 series achieves fastest sales milestone in Samsung history, reaching 3 million Korean sales two months ahead of Galaxy S24
Samsung's Galaxy S25 series reached 3 million units sold in South Korea by August 1st, the fastest pace for any Galaxy smartphone in company history. The milestone was achieved two months earlier than the Galaxy S24 series, demonstrating strong consumer demand for Samsung's latest flagship lineup.
The Galaxy S25 series reached 1 million Korean sales in just 21 days, breaking the previous record held by the Galaxy Note 10 from 2019. This rapid adoption continued with 2 million sales achieved more than two weeks faster than the Galaxy S24, ultimately leading to the 3 million milestone.
Pre-orders alone reached a record 1.3 million units, setting the stage for the series' commercial success. The Galaxy S25 Ultra accounts for approximately 50% of total sales, with its premium positioning and enhanced features driving higher profit margins for Samsung.
Samsung credits the success to two key factors: advanced AI capabilities and its innovative subscription program. The Galaxy S25 series introduces Now Brief, which proactively offers personalized suggestions accessible via Now Bar on the lock screen, alongside generative editing, slow motion, and audio eraser features.
The "New Galaxy AI Subscription Club" attracted 30% of Samsung.com buyers, with subscribers paying 5,900 KRW ($4) monthly for up to 50% residual value guarantee after one year. 60% of subscribers are in their 20s and 30s, indicating strong appeal among younger demographics.
While the main S25 lineup succeeds, the Galaxy S25 Edge is underperforming with sales below Samsung's expectations. Samsung has significantly cut Edge production numbers due to weak consumer response to the ultra-thin design, which sacrifices battery life and telephoto cameras for a 5.8mm profile.
Samsung's success extends to foldables, with Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Flip 7 achieving 1.04 million pre-orders in Korea. For the first time, the Z Fold 7 accounts for 60% of foldable pre-orders, outpacing the traditionally popular Flip model.
The Fold 7's redesigned slim profile and enhanced features have driven unprecedented demand, with Samsung reporting 25% increase in total foldable pre-orders and 60% jump through US carriers.
Globally, Samsung sold 20.22 million Galaxy S25 units by end of June, a 12.2% increase over Galaxy S24's same period. First quarter sales reached 9.16 million units, with the Ultra model selling 5.08 million units compared to 2.41 million for the base model.
The subscription model's success in Korea may influence Samsung's global strategy, as traditional ownership models evolve toward service-based approaches. The rapid Korean adoption demonstrates consumer appetite for AI-powered features and flexible payment options in premium smartphones.
Samsung's 2025 performance indicates strong positioning against competitors, with AI integration and subscription services creating new pathways to flagship device adoption beyond traditional purchase models.