Samsung updates Galaxy S6 sales forecast up to 70 million units

While Samsung's smartphone business had a tough year in 2014, this year they seem to have hit the sweet spot with the Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge. After a first increase of the initial sales forecasts by third parties up to 55 million units, now a Samsung exec pushes the figure much higher, expecting to close the year with around 70 million Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge handsets sold.

According to The Korea Times, the unnamed Samsung exec said "The Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge are drawing positive responses. I have no doubt that they will be the biggest-sellers in the Galaxy series ever," before a weekly meeting at the Seocho headquarters in Seoul earlier this week. Even more, he revealed the company's sales estimation - "We expect 70 million plus."

Samsung Vice Chairman Kwon Oh-hyun did not mention any figures, only saying "The S6 should do well. The first week looks impressive." The new handsets generated no less than 20 million pre-orders from carriers all around the world for Samsung. The Galaxy S6 series have been up for sale via retail channels for a week now.

If the sales remain strong during the entire year, Samsung may even recover the world's largest smartphone maker crown they lost to Apple in the fourth quarter of 2014, but this is something that remains to be seen.