Samsung to Raise Prices for Galaxy S26 Series Amid Component Costs

Samsung Electronics is considering raising the retail prices of its Galaxy S26 series, which was launched earlier this year. Following an unusual price increase for some previous models, including the Galaxy S25 Edge, the pressure to raise prices for the latest products is growing. Analysts attribute this to soaring costs for key components, such as memory chips, which are straining smartphone manufacturers' profit margins.

According to industry sources on September 14, Samsung is reviewing plans to increase the retail prices for all models in the Galaxy S26 series. In the telecommunications sector, there are discussions that the base model of the S26, with 256 gigabytes (GB) of storage, could rise from the current 1,254,000 won to around 1,400,000 won. The S26 Plus may see a price adjustment from 1,452,000 won to about 1,600,000 won, while the Ultra model could increase from 1,797,400 won to over 1,940,000 won.

Earlier in April, Samsung had already raised the prices of some flagship products by 100,000 to 200,000 won. The price of the Galaxy S25 Edge with 512GB increased from 1,639,000 won to 1,749,000 won, while the Galaxy Z Fold7 with 1TB saw a jump from 2,933,700 won to 3,127,300 won, an increase of 193,600 won. The Fold7 and Flip7 models with 512GB also experienced price hikes of 94,600 won each.

Notably, the price increase for the S25 Edge occurred after the release of its successor, the S26 series, which is unusual. Typically, when a new smartphone is released, the previous model's price is lowered to maintain its competitiveness. However, in this case, Samsung has raised the prices of some previous models as well. At that time, Samsung cited rising prices for memory semiconductors and exchange rates as reasons for the price adjustments.

The cost pressures from semiconductors are intensifying. According to market research firm TrendForce, the price of general-purpose DRAM rose by approximately 58% to 63% in the second quarter of this year compared to the previous quarter, while NAND flash prices increased by 70%. Additionally, the burden of component prices, including high-performance application processors (AP), has added to the cost pressures. The growing demand for memory capacity and processing power due to expanded AI functionalities in smartphones is also increasing manufacturers' cost burdens.