Galaxy S26 More Expensive: Price Increase of $50 to $100 Expected
Every year, the question of the price of Samsung’s new flagships arises — and for the upcoming Galaxy S26 series, the trend appears to be upward.
According to an exclusive report from South Korean media ETNews, Samsung is facing a widespread increase in production costs, which could compel the brand to raise the price of its upcoming models.
Significant Increase in Component Costs
As reported by ETNews, several key components of Galaxy smartphones have seen a sharp rise in prices:
- +12% for chipsets,
- +8% for camera modules,
- and especially +16% for mobile LPDDR5 memory.
This last increase is particularly concerning: the global demand for HBM (High Bandwidth Memory) — used in AI servers — has created a shortage in traditional supply chains.
The result: chip manufacturers are prioritizing AI markets over mobile production. In other words, the explosion of AI is driving up the price… of your future smartphone.
Galaxy S26: The Same Models, But Pricier
The 2026 lineup is expected to maintain the same structure as previous years: Galaxy S26, Galaxy S26+, and Galaxy S26 Ultra. Samsung has reportedly abandoned its plans for “Pro” and “Edge” models to focus on this trilogy.
The launch, originally scheduled for early February, is now pushed to February 25, 2026, during a Galaxy Unpacked event in San Francisco.
Here are the expected prices for the Galaxy S26 series:
- Galaxy S26: $849
- Galaxy S26+: $1,049
- Galaxy S26 Ultra: $1,349
An adjustment of $50 to $100 seems likely, according to ET News — the first of its kind in several generations.
A Dilemma for Samsung
Samsung finds itself in a challenging position: on one hand, costs are skyrocketing across the board; on the other, the high-end market is already saturated, and consumers are becoming more cautious. The company might partially offset the increase through economies of scale and its expertise in silicon, but a moderate price hike appears inevitable.
“Samsung cannot continue to absorb cost increases indefinitely. If the market does not accept them, it could suffer later,” commented an analyst from TrendForce cited by ET News.
If Samsung raises its prices, other major manufacturers (Apple, Google, Vivo, Xiaomi) will likely follow suit. The tensions in chip and memory supply chains are expected to continue into 2026, especially as AI continues to dominate industry investments.
Thus, the Galaxy S26 could usher in a new era of “super flagships” that are even more expensive, where technological advancements come at a steep price.
