The Galaxy S26 series is generating a lot of excitement. It is expected to unveil its lineup in San Francisco in February, but consumer concerns over higher prices are causing early excitement to wane.
The Galaxy S26 series may see a price increase in the near future, according to a new report from South Korea. Over the past year, Samsung has managed to keep the base prices of all three Galaxy S25 models across most markets, but economic conditions surrounding smartphone component manufacturing have changed significantly.
Compared with last year’s average, chip prices are up 12%, while camera modules—another major contributor to flagship phone costs—are up 8%. A more notable spike is the 16% increase in mobile DRAM prices just since the first quarter.
Things are only going to get worse. As manufacturers divert production capacity to high-bandwidth memory (HBM) used in AI chips, a memory shortage is expected in the coming months. The financial pressure on smartphone makers is only intensifying as supply tightens and demand for advanced components rises.
It is not just Samsung that is feeling the strain. According to reports, Apple is planning to raise prices for its latest iPhone 17 series.
In an attempt to reduce reliance on Qualcomm’s increasingly expensive Snapdragon chips, Samsung prioritised the development of the Exynos 2600. Samsung could control costs by using its own silicon.
Based on past adjustments, the increase is likely to be between $50 and $100, in line with industry trends. Samsung will officially announce the S26 series soon, but fans will have to wait until then.
