Does Samsung Galaxy S26 come with price increases? Yes and no.
Thinking about getting your hands on the latest Samsung Galaxy? Let’s talk pricing. Whether you’ll be spending a little more depends on which model catches your eye.
Samsung recently unveiled its highly anticipated Galaxy S26 lineup at their Unpacked event. The Galaxy S26, S26 Plus, and S26 Ultra are all set to ship on March 11th, and pre-orders are already open.
Unfortunately, it looks like the S26 and S26 Plus models do come with a slight bump in price. Factors such as a global memory shortage, ongoing tariffs, and general inflation have contributed to this less-than-ideal news, though it isn’t entirely unexpected.
Are there Samsung Galaxy S26 price increases?
The quick answer: It’s a mixed bag.
Previously, the S25 models were introduced at price points of $799.99, $999.99, and $1,299.99, respectively. Now, let’s break down the official pricing for the S26 series, straight from Samsung:
- Galaxy S26: $899.99
- Galaxy S26 Plus: $1,099.99
- Galaxy S26 Ultra: $1,299.99
However, it’s important to note that only one model has a true price increase in the S26 family. The S26 Plus sees a $100 increase compared to the S25 Plus, which was initially priced at $999.99. For the standard S26, Samsung has opted to discontinue the lower-memory configuration.
The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra.
Credit: Chris Taylor / Mashable
When the Galaxy S25 debuted, the 128GB version had a starting price of $799.99, which is $100 less than the entry-level S26. However, the base model S26 now offers 256GB of storage for $899.99, matching the price of the S25’s equivalent storage option. Therefore, the company chose to eliminate the lowest-tier version instead of implementing a direct price increase.
Good news for those eyeing the premium model! The S26 Ultra maintains the same price point as its predecessor.
Why did Samsung Galaxy S26 prices increase?
First and foremost, it’s a general trend that most things tend to become more expensive over time. (TVs oddly seem to buck this trend). However, the tech industry is currently facing unique challenges. The rise of AI has triggered a global shortage of memory components, which is showing no signs of easing and consequently driving up prices. Furthermore, tariffs have also contributed to increased costs in the tech sector.
Therefore, the increase in Galaxy prices isn’t entirely surprising, and thankfully, the increases are relatively modest.
On a final note, Samsung has discontinued its usual launch promotion that offered customers who pre-ordered the new phones double the storage capacity at no additional cost.
