Bad news Samsung fans! The Galaxy S26 could see a price increase after all

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This could be the first increase in years

SmartPrix renders of the galaxy s26 phones
(Image credit: SmartPrix / Tom's Guide)

The Galaxy S26 is likely to be the first major smartphone release of 2026, but a new report suggests that Samsung may need to increase the price in certain markets.

A new report from the South Korean publication FNNews has indicated that a price increase is coming for the Galaxy S26. According to the report, soaring DRAM and NAND prices, coupled with high exchange rates, are expected to result in a domestic price increase for the new phone. The plan is supposedly to increase the cost of the 256GB models by between 44,000 and 88,0000 won, around $30 to $50, respectively.

For reference, we haven’t seen Samsung drastically increase its prices since 2023, with the Galaxy S23 increasing by £60 in the U.K., and by similar amounts in Europe and Australia. The Galaxy S24 and Galaxy S25 prices have remained at that level, but it seems that, unfortunately, all good things must come to an end. However, a Samsung representative is quoted by FNNews as saying that the Galaxy S26 prices are not finalized at this point.

CAD design of the Galaxy S26 Ultra

(Image credit: Android headlines x Onleaks)

This isn’t the first time we’ve heard about a potential price increase due to hardware supply issues. In an interview with Reuters, Samsung Co-CEO TM Roh mentioned the ongoing issues with supplying DRAM for its devices, stating, "As this situation is unprecedented, no company is immune to its impact.”

Meanwhile, the analyst firm IDC predicted last year that the continuing pressure on DRAM prices would result in cost increases across the board, with an estimated price rise of as much as 8%.

Could other markets see a price hike?

Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra concept image

(Image credit: Technizo Concept/YouTube)

One important thing to note is that increases in the Korean market don’t automatically mean that we’ll see cost increases in the U.S. or the U.K. Historically, increases in one market have not meant increases in other countries. Indeed, the report states that Samsung is considering setting the global pricing of the new phone to match the Galaxy S25, in order to help promote sales.

FNNews also appears to confirm that Samsung plans to delay the launch of the Galaxy S26 series until February 25, with the actual release date happening in March. This coincides with other rumors and leaks that hint at a later release date for the device compared to recent years.

Unfortunately, with the increasing cost of RAM, product price increases are expected to be inevitable as the year goes on. While certain markets may avoid them for the time being, there is a high chance that many of the best phones of 2026 will be more expensive than their predecessors.

Let us know what you think, are you willing to pay more for the next generation of smartphones, or will you be keeping your older device for longer?

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Josh Render
Josh Render
Staff Writer

Josh is a staff writer for Tom's Guide and is based in the UK. He has worked for several publications but now works primarily on mobile phones. Outside of phones, he has a passion for video games, novels, and Warhammer. 

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