Samsung is expected to raise prices for the Galaxy S26 series in South Korea when the devices launch, while keeping prices unchanged in select overseas markets such as the United States, according to a report from Korean outlet FN News.
However, the report also hints that the stable US price may be very temporary. The report offers mixed news for buyers. While Korean customers may face higher prices, launch-day promotions in some markets could temporarily offset the increases.
Expected Price Changes by Region
Industry sources cited in the report say Samsung plans to increase the prices of the 256GB base models of the Galaxy S26 lineup in South Korea by approximately $30 to $60, depending on the model.
For comparison, the Galaxy S25 series launched in South Korea at the following approximate prices after conversion to USD:
- Galaxy S25: about $800
- Galaxy S25+: about $980
- Galaxy S25 Ultra: about $1,230
Outside Korea, Samsung reportedly intends to keep launch prices unchanged in certain regions, including the United States. If that strategy holds, the Galaxy S26 series would debut at:
- Galaxy S26: $800
- Galaxy S26+: $1,000
- Galaxy S26 Ultra: $1,300
The report notes that these lower prices may apply only during the initial launch period. It remains unclear which markets beyond the US will receive similar launch pricing.
Why The Price Increase?
The primary driver behind the potential price increase is rising component costs, particularly memory. The price of 12GB LPDDR5X RAM has more than doubled compared with last year and is projected to increase by an additional 40% by the second half of this year. NAND flash storage prices are also trending higher.
These increases have directly affected smartphone manufacturing costs, especially for flagship models with higher memory configurations.
Currency Pressures Add to Costs
Samsung is also dealing with unfavorable exchange rates. The Korean won has weakened significantly against the US dollar, increasing the cost of imported components.
The report says Samsung spent a record about $7.6 billion on smartphone chipsets in the third and fourth quarters of last year. A large portion of that spending went to US-based supplier Qualcomm, underscoring Samsung’s reliance on imported processors.
Why Exynos is More Important Than Ever
The rising costs help explain Samsung’s continued effort to expand the use of its in-house Exynos processors, which are produced domestically and are less exposed to currency fluctuations. However, adoption of Exynos chips has remained limited.
According to unconfirmed information cited in the report, the Galaxy S26 series is expected to use Snapdragon processors in most markets, with Exynos potentially reserved only for Korea.
Pricing pressure is not limited to Samsung’s flagship phones. The report also points to price increases affecting existing mid-range devices. In India, the Galaxy A56 is expected to receive a price increase of about $22.
Launch Time
Samsung is expected to unveil the Galaxy S26 series in late February at an event in San Francisco, with retail availability planned for early March.
Gret