3 Minutes
Samsung appears ready to lift Galaxy S26 prices in South Korea while keeping U.S. launch tags steady — at least initially. Here’s what’s driving the shift, which models will be affected, and how buyers can still avoid sticker shock.
Price changes: small numbers that add up
Industry sources cited by FN News say Samsung will increase the price of the base 256GB Galaxy S26 models in Korea by about KRW 44,000 to KRW 88,000. For context, the Galaxy S25 launched at KRW 1,155,000, the S25+ at KRW 1,353,000 and the S25 Ultra at KRW 1,698,400. That jump may push some buyers toward waiting for launch promotions or trade-in offers.
Why Korea, and why now?
The explanation is largely economic: memory costs and a weak won. The price of 12GB LPDDR5X RAM has more than doubled year-over-year and could climb another 40% by the latter half of the year. NAND flash (storage) prices are rising too, inflating the bill for higher-capacity SKUs.
On top of that, the Korean won recently slipped past 1,400 per US dollar, making imported components substantially more expensive for Korean factories that source parts globally.
Chipset supply and the Snapdragon vs Exynos story
Samsung’s chipset spending last year was massive: roughly KRW 11 trillion on smartphone chipsets in Q3 and Q4 — about $7.6 billion, mostly paid to Qualcomm. That’s one reason Samsung is motivated to shift more models to its in-house Exynos chips, which avoid some currency exposure. But Exynos hasn’t dislodged Snapdragon widely, and the latest (unconfirmed) leaks suggest the Galaxy S26 lineup will use Snapdragon chips almost everywhere, with Korea possibly the lone holdout for Exynos.
Different launch prices by market
Reports say Samsung will keep U.S. launch prices the same as last year’s S25 trio — $800, $1,000 and $1,300 for the base, plus and Ultra models respectively. In practice, initial launch-day deals and carrier promotions could soften the impact of localized price increases, so buyers should watch November-style perks and early-bird bundles when the phones arrive.
What to expect at launch
- Unveiling: Samsung is expected to reveal the S26 series in late February in San Francisco ahead of a retail launch in early March.
- Market splits: Some regions may see higher retail tags; others will stick to 2025 prices at launch.
- Other models: Price pressure is not limited to S-series phones — midrange devices are being adjusted too. For example, the Galaxy A56 reportedly faced a small price bump in India.
How buyers can avoid overpaying
Want the S26 without the premium? Consider these tactics: wait for launch promotions, check carrier trade-in deals, or buy in markets where Samsung is maintaining last year’s pricing. If you live in Korea, time your purchase for initial launch windows — retailers often run discounts or bundle offers that offset early markups.
Ultimately, the S26 price story is a reminder that component shortages, memory inflation and currency swings can change smartphone economics fast. Keep an eye on official Samsung announcements as February approaches — and expect aggressive marketing during the first weeks of the retail launch.
Source: gsmarena
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