Home / Technology / Galaxy S26 Prices: A Wild Ride Ahead?
Galaxy S26 Prices: A Wild Ride Ahead?
29 Jan
Summary
- Base Galaxy S26 price may increase significantly.
- Galaxy S26 Plus and Ultra prices could decrease.
- Free storage upgrades are not expected for pre-orders.
Pricing for the upcoming Samsung Galaxy S26 series is rumored to fluctuate, with potential increases for the standard model and decreases for the Ultra. The Galaxy S26 is projected to become more expensive, partly due to an increase in base storage to 256GB. This represents a nearly 9% cost increase compared to previous models.
The Galaxy S26 Plus is expected to maintain its current entry-level price, while the S26 Ultra may see reduced costs for its 256GB and 512GB configurations. However, these lower prices do not extend to the top-tier storage options for either the Plus or Ultra models. Additionally, pre-order customers might not receive complimentary storage upgrades, a benefit previously offered with new Galaxy phone releases.
This unusual pricing structure, mixing price hikes and drops, is speculated to be Samsung's strategy to mitigate the impact of rising High Bandwidth Memory (HBM) costs driven by AI data center construction. By adjusting prices, particularly on the popular Ultra model, Samsung may aim to maintain sales momentum amidst global economic pressures. The Galaxy S26 series is anticipated to be unveiled at an unannounced event tentatively scheduled for February 25th.
