Samsung is reportedly preparing to launch its highly anticipated Galaxy S26 series on February 25, 2026, but a notable price hike is expected compared to the Galaxy S25 lineup released earlier this year. South Korean industry sources, as reported by ETNews and other outlets, indicate that rising costs for key components—especially chipsets, LPDDR5 RAM, and camera modules—have forced Samsung to consider increasing retail prices to maintain healthy profit margins.
Component prices have surged significantly in the past year, with a 12% increase in chipset costs, around 8% for camera modules, and an alarming 16% rise in LPDDR5 mobile RAM. The supply crunch for RAM is exacerbated by chip manufacturers prioritizing high-bandwidth memory for AI servers, reducing availability for smartphones. This escalating cost scenario is affecting not only Samsung but also other major smartphone manufacturers including Apple.
The Galaxy S26 series is expected to include the standard Galaxy S26, Galaxy S26+, and the Galaxy S26 Ultra. Samsung plans to introduce its proprietary Exynos 2600 chip built on a 2nm process in select markets, while other regions might receive the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset. The Ultra is likely to feature a larger 5,500mAh battery with faster charging capabilities, a refreshed pill-shaped camera design, and enhanced performance.
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In India, the base variant of the Galaxy S26 Ultra with 12GB RAM and 256GB storage is rumored to launch around ₹1,59,990, a meaningful increase over the Galaxy S25 Ultra's initial price of approximately ₹1,29,999. Samsung’s planned launch in San Francisco next February is expected to be the company’s first in the city in three years, representing a strategic pivot in timing and marketing.
Despite the anticipated price hike, Samsung remains optimistic about demand, targeting sales of 24 million units for the S26 series globally in 2026. The company hopes to sustain momentum built by strong sales of the Galaxy S25 and Galaxy Z Fold 7 devices by delivering cutting-edge technology balanced with competitive pricing where possible.
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