Summary
- Samsung Galaxy S26 series is reportedly getting more expensive thanks to the global memory chip shortage.
- The brand is forced to rethink its pricing strategy amidst rising memory prices and might not absorb the costs itself.
- Galaxy S26 series is expected to be unveiled in February 2026.
It is almost time for Samsung to make the Galaxy S26 series official. It is already delayed by a month and fans are eagerly waiting to get their hands on the latest "Galaxy S" series flagships. However, expectation might not live up to the hype as the upcoming phones are said to become more expensive this year.
Samsung might raise Galaxy S26 price to combat memory crisis
South Korean media house FN News has exclusively reported that Samsung is hiking the Galaxy S26 series price globally. The lineup is said to gain an almost 100% jump in price in South Korea and the same could reflect for markets like India and the USA.
The report claims that a jump from 44,000 South Korean won (approximately Rs 3,000) to 88,000 South Korean won (approximately Rs 5,500) is being planned per unit of the base 256 GB model. This means that the Galaxy S26 will start from an estimated 1,209,050 South Korean won (approximately Rs 76,000).
For India, the Galaxy S25 launched last year for Rs 80,999. The Galaxy S26 Ultra could very well touch the Rs 90,000 mark upon launch. Moreover, the base variant of the Galaxy S26 Ultra could very well start from Rs 1,74,000.
As to the reason for this, if not already evident, it is due to the global RAM crisis that has plagued the smartphone market lately. Earlier, it was said that Samsung will avoid Galaxy S26 price hike and would absorb the costs itself. However, that doesn't seem to be the case anymore.
Also, another reason why the price hike seems more likely is due to the recent fluctuation of exchange rates. Both the South Korean won and the Indian rupee have weakened against the US Dollar. This has made both markets susceptible to rising costs. So, to adjust for inflation and to keep the component costs in check, Samsung is likely the latest brand to enter the price hike race.
That said, at the time of writing, nothing has been confirmed. So, take this development with a pinch of salt. It will be interesting to see how costly the Galaxy S26 series becomes in India. Samsung has already given its existing Galaxy A, Galaxy F and Galaxy M series price hikes in the country, so hopes for the same price as last year are surely dim.
Source
FN News
