Samsung Increases Galaxy S26 Prices by $100, Citing Chip Shortage

Samsung Electronics Co. is increasing the price of its flagship Galaxy S26 smartphone series by $100, passing on rising component costs to consumers amid a persistent global memory chip shortage, according to a report from Investing.com.

Price Adjustments Detailed

The price adjustments affect the core models in the S26 lineup, which now reflect the higher input costs. The new starting prices are as follows:

• Galaxy S26: $1,000
• Galaxy S26+: $1,200
• Galaxy S26 Ultra: $1,400

The highest-tier 1-terabyte S26 Ultra model saw an even larger increase of $200, bringing its new retail price to $2,000.

Industry-Wide Pressures

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The price hike reflects broader cost pressures within the consumer electronics industry. According to the report, manufacturers are contending with an unprecedented shortage of memory chips, a critical component for devices ranging from smartphones to gaming consoles and laptops. This scarcity is largely driven by surging demand from the artificial intelligence sector and the rapid buildout of data centers.

Competitive Landscape and Exemptions

Samsung's decision follows similar moves by its primary competitors in the high-end smartphone market. Apple recently introduced a more expensive iPhone 18 Pro line, and Alphabet Inc.’s Google also increased the cost of its Pixel 11 series.

However, not all of Samsung's devices were affected. The company has kept the price of its more affordable Galaxy S26 FE, which launched in August for $700, unchanged. Additionally, Samsung's premium foldable lineup, including the Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Z Flip 8, were not included in this round of price increases.