Anticipation around the Galaxy S26 series is rapidly building. The company is expected to unveil the lineup in February at an event in San Francisco, but early excitement is now mixed with growing concerns over something consumers rarely welcome: higher prices.
According to a new report from South Korea, a price increase for the Galaxy S26 series may be “inevitable”. While Samsung managed to maintain the base prices of all three Galaxy S25 models across most markets, the economic conditions surrounding smartphone component manufacturing have shifted considerably over the past year.
Chipset prices are up 12% compared to last year’s average, while camera modules—another major contributor to flagship phone cost—have increased by 8%. More notably, mobile DRAM prices have surged 16% just since the first quarter of this year.
And the situation is poised to become even more challenging. A memory shortage is expected in the coming months as manufacturers divert production capacity toward high-bandwidth memory (HBM) used in AI chips. With supply tightening and demand for advanced components rising, the financial pressure on smartphone makers is only intensifying.
Samsung is not the only company feeling the strain. Apple raised prices for its latest iPhone 17 series, and further increases are reportedly on the way. The recently launched Redmi K90 is also priced CNY 100 (~$14) higher than its predecessor.
This backdrop may also explain Samsung’s decision to prioritize development of the Exynos 2600, aiming to reduce reliance on Qualcomm’s increasingly expensive Snapdragon chips. Using its own silicon could help Samsung control costs.
As for the size of the increase, industry patterns suggest a likely rise of $50 to $100, consistent with past adjustments. For now, fans will have to wait for Samsung’s official announcement of the S26 series.
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