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Samsung Galaxy S26 Price Hike Looms as AI Drives Memory Chip Costs Up

Samsung's upcoming Galaxy S26 is anticipated to see its first price increase in three years, breaking a steady pricing streak held since the Galaxy S23. The hike is attributed to rising global memory chip costs, fueled by demand for stronger performance in AI devices. Company executive Roh Tae-moon hinted that these increased component costs would affect product pricing. The new model, expected to be unveiled on February 25, may also introduce a built-in privacy screen feature.

Key Points: Galaxy S26 Price Increase Expected Due to AI Chip Costs

  • First Galaxy price hike since 2023
  • AI boom driving memory chip costs
  • Launch set for Feb 25 in San Francisco
  • May include built-in privacy screen feature
2 min read

Samsung's upcoming Galaxy S26 likely to see 1st price hike in 3 years

Samsung's Galaxy S26 may see its first price hike since 2023, driven by rising memory chip costs for AI features. Launch expected Feb 25.

"Stronger chip performance required for AI devices is making a price increase inevitable - industry official"

Seoul, Feb 18

Samsung's upcoming Galaxy smartphone is expected to see its first price increase since 2023, industry watchers said on Wednesday, amid a global rise in memory chip prices fuelled by the artificial intelligence boom.

The South Korean tech giant plans to host the Galaxy Unpacked 2026 event in San Francisco on Feb. 25 (U.S. time) under the theme "The Next AI Phone Makes Your Life Easier," where the company is widely expected to unveil the Galaxy S26, the latest in its flagship lineup, reports Yonhap news agency.

Samsung Electronics has held the price of its main Galaxy models steady since 2023, but industry watchers say an adjustment appears inevitable for the Galaxy S26 series due to higher memory costs.

During a meeting with reporters in January, Roh Tae-moon, co-chief executive officer (CEO) of Samsung Electronics, also hinted that the rising memory chip costs could affect the pricing of Samsung products.

Industry sources said the 256-gigabyte model of the Galaxy S26 may rise by up to 99,000 won (US$68) from the set price of 1.15 million won for the basic model since the Galaxy S23.

"Stronger chip performance required for AI devices is making a price increase inevitable," an industry official said.

"Samsung is expected to finalise the price after considering consumers' psychological threshold and competitors' pricing policies," the official added.

"The new Galaxy S series is coming, built to simplify everyday interactions, inspire confidence and make Galaxy AI feel seamlessly integrated from the moment it's in hand," the company said in an earlier release.

Sources said the new Galaxy smartphone, widely expected to be the Galaxy S26, will be equipped with a built-in privacy feature allowing users to protect on-screen information from others without the need to attach an additional film, said the report.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

S
Shreya B
The built-in privacy screen is a game-changer for commuting in the Mumbai local! 😅 But honestly, if the price goes up, I hope the battery life and camera improvements are substantial. We pay a premium already with import taxes.
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Aman W
It's simple economics. If chip costs are up, prices will rise. But Samsung needs to be careful. The Indian market is very price-sensitive. Chinese brands offer great specs at lower prices. They can't take loyal customers for granted.
P
Priyanka N
As a tech enthusiast, I'm excited for the new AI features. But the timing is bad for many Indians. With inflation, every rupee counts. Maybe I'll wait for the Diwali sale or a good exchange offer for my old phone.
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Vikram M
They held prices for 3 years, that's actually commendable. Everything else has gotten more expensive. If the AI truly makes life easier and the phone lasts 4-5 years, the investment might be justified. Let's see the actual Indian pricing first.
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Karthik V
Respectfully, I think this constant push for "the next big AI feature" is creating unnecessary upgrades. My 2-year-old phone handles everything perfectly. Companies should focus on making durable, repairable phones instead of justifying price hikes with marginal improvements.

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