We’re barely a week into 2026 and the year isn’t shaping up to be a particularly great one for our bank balances. The global RAM squeeze is expected to drive up the cost of countless gadgets in the coming months. According to the latest reports, the Galaxy S26 series is set for a price hike when it launches in just a few weeks’ time. The news comes shortly after Samsung Electronics failed to reach a longer-term agreement to buy memory chips from its sister division, Samsung Semiconductor; it must now compete for quarterly contracts like everyone else.
There’s an added twist to this tale, however; price increases may not apply evenly to every region and every model. So far, South Korea appears set to see higher costs in the region of 88,000 won (~$60) for a 256GB configuration. However, the expectation is that US consumers will still pay $799, $999, and $1299 for the Galaxy S26, Plus, and Ultra, respectively. You have to wonder if Apple’s consistent iPhone prices and huge US market share have essentially tied Samsung’s hands, forcing it to absorb the costs to remain competitive in such a key market.
Either way, the news seems palatable if you’re a US consumer, but much harder to swallow if you live elsewhere. Especially given that some customers might also end up paying more for hardware that doesn’t appear to move the needle. This could make the Galaxy S26 one of, if not the most contentious, Samsung flagships in recent years.
Will higher prices change your decision to buy a Galaxy S26? 21 votes I'll still buy it. 0 % I won't buy if it's more expensive. 24 % I might wait for a cheaper deal. 33 % I wasn't going to buy one anyway. 43 %
Higher prices for the same hardware
C. Scott Brown / Android Authority
No one likes price increases, especially when it feels like we’re paying more for the same hardware that we could have previously bought for less. Unfortunately, the Galaxy S26 series appears to be falling into that category, if the rumors turn out to be true. With the same camera specs we’ve had for years and displays that will look exactly the same as before, it appears that some customers will be paying the added RAM tax for a buying decision that increasingly feels like a compromise rather than a major upgrade.
To be fair to Samsung, there are some improvements on the way. If leaked specifications are to be believed, the Galaxy S26 will feature a larger base storage model and a slightly larger battery (although it won’t rival the 7,000mAh behemoths now available). Likewise, the Galaxy S26 Ultra is set to gain faster 65W charging and a new M14 display panel, albeit with the same core specs as last generation. All three phones will also be upgraded with newer, faster processors and will boast a slightly tweaked design. Whether that’s worth an extra $60 or so to global consumers will be hotly debated, no doubt, and it might be a better financial decision for international customers just to pick up a Galaxy S25 today.
The age-old Exynos versus Snapdragon debate throws another layer of fuel on the fire this year. While the Galaxy S26 Ultra will use Snapdragon in every region, it’s expected that the less expensive Galaxy S26 and S26 Plus will ship with Samsung’s new Exynos 2600 processor in at least some regions. Samsung adopted a similar strategy in previous years, much to the displeasure of a vocal group of Samsung fans. However, it stuck with the Snapdragon 8 Elite for the entire S25 lineup, due to performance discrepancies and issues with its manufacturing line.
Global Exynos Galaxy S26's could cost more than Snapdragon US models.
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