New reports reveal that Samsung is, in fact, planning to raise the price of the Galaxy S26 series, but only for a couple of models. The most expensive version is actually getting cheaper.
There have been existing rumors that Samsung plans to increase the price of the upcoming Galaxy S26 series. This would be due to the rising cost of RAM, driven by demand for high-bandwidth memory designed with AI in mind. With resources diverted to building out AI data centers, DRAM is scarcer and more expensive.
New reports courtesy of Swedish dealer data indicate the rumors are true, for the most part (via WinFuture). According to that new information, Samsung plans to increase the price of the Galaxy S26 by an estimated €100. The Galaxy S26 Ultra, however, is somehow getting less expensive. The Ultra variant will apparently cost nearly €100 less than the Galaxy S25 Ultra.
There are a couple of things to keep in mind. The report notes that the Galaxy S26 base model will cost 11990 SEK for Swedish consumers. That’s a €100 increase between 256GB models, not between 128GB models. The company plans to drop the low-storage variant in favor of a higher floor. This has already taken effect for the Galaxy S26 Ultra model, but it’s yet to be done in the less expensive (past tense) base and plus versions.
As it stands, it looks like Samsung’s entire Galaxy S26 lineup is going to look a lot different when it comes to cart price total. For now, the predicted prices are listed in the table below.
| Storage size | Galaxy S26 | Galaxy S26+ | Galaxy S26 Ultra |
|---|---|---|---|
| 256GB | €1049 | €1299 | €1399 |
| 512GB | €1259 | €1449 | €1569 |
| 1TB | N/A | N/A | €1809 |
The original report indicates that Samsung is introducing a Galaxy S26 Ultra at a lower price to keep the device more attractive, even though it should theoretically be more expensive. On the other hand, some are speculating that Samsung will stop offering its traditional free storage upgrades for pre-order customers, at least for the Ultra model.
This comes as Samsung’s high-end flagship is reportedly getting notable upgrades, like a “Privacy display” feature, among predictable improvements in camera and battery.
Another angle to consider is that this data comes from a Swedish source, where prices tend to keel to the higher side. Even still, the data is a valuable reference for what prices may look like in regions like the US and the rest of Europe. It’s noted that these source prices may more directly influence prices in the German market, as well.
If these reports are true and Samsung does release the Galaxy S26 Ultra at a lower price in most markets, this is great news for those looking to upgrade to the high end. It would also mean Samsung’s base and plus models would see less interest, pushing budget-minded users to devices like the FE variant or older devices.
Overall, though, it’s a shame to see the effects of RAM scarcity enter the smartphone market.
More on Samsung:
- Galaxy Z TriFold seemingly won’t allow trade-ins, as it briefly went up for sale early
- Samsung teases ‘next-generation’ AR glasses and more foldables coming in 2026
- Galaxy S26 series leaks in cases; I still can’t tell if the phone has magnets or not [Gallery]
FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.
Comments