Galaxy S26 Ultra May Keep $1,299 Price — but with Fewer Freebies

Samsung is preparing for its biggest smartphone launch event of the year. It is expected to unveil the Galaxy S26, S26+, and S26 Ultra on February 25, 2026. Rising component costs, especially memory chips, are putting pressure on margins, forcing the company to make difficult trade-offs to avoid passing those costs directly to consumers.

If you plan to buy the Galaxy S26 series, our Mystery Box program is now live. You can sign up here to be eligible for free accessories during pre-orders, including a 65W charger, protective case, and more.

Samsung may protect Galaxy S26 Ultra pricing by cutting preorder perks

The root of the problem lies well beyond smartphones. Over the past year, demand for semiconductor memory chips has surged due to the explosive growth of AI infrastructure. Major tech companies rushed to acquire high-bandwidth memory (HBM) and server-grade DDR5 modules in large quantities to power their AI servers and data centers.

Because HBM and enterprise-grade memory command much higher margins, memory chip manufacturers shifted production away from general-purpose and low-power memory, the types commonly used in smartphones and laptops. That shift has reduced supply, driving up prices. Smartphone makers are now paying up to three times more for the same amount of memory compared to last year.

This surge is significantly impacting profitability, especially for premium devices that already rely on large RAM and storage configurations. The issue directly affects Samsung’s upcoming Galaxy S26 series, leaving the company with a difficult choice. It must either raise prices or absorb the costs and accept lower margins.

According to a report from iNews24, Samsung is making a concerted effort to launch the Galaxy S26 Ultra at a price similar to the S25 Ultra, which debuted at $1,299 in the US. Some insiders suggest the company has no choice but to push the price to $1,399, but it doesn’t want to. Instead, the Korean biggie may reduce or remove its usual preorder incentives to maintain last year’s prices.

The popular double storage upgrade for early buyers is reportedly on the chopping block. Other perks, such as accessory bundles or enhanced trade-in bonuses, could also be scaled back. This isn’t the first time we’ve heard about this possibility, so there’s a high chance you’ll not get double storage or free accessories with your Galaxy S26 preorder.

However, if you sign up for our Mystery Box program, we offer a free 65W GaN charger, case, USB-C wired earphones, and more accessories absolutely free. These freebies are available to US customers who preorder a Galaxy S26 through the program. Sign up now!