Galaxy S26 Series Could See Price Hike in Korea

While leaks have already painted almost a clear picture of the Galaxy S26 series, its pricing remains uncertain. A new report suggests Samsung may increase prices for its next-gen flagship lineup in South Korea. If true, this will be the first price hike in three years since the Galaxy S23 series. The move is likely due to rising costs of key components, particularly memory chips.

The price increase for the Galaxy S26 series seems unavoidable

According to a report from ETNews, the 256GB Galaxy S26 (base model) could cost 1,254,000 won, 99,000 won more than the Galaxy S25. The same storage versions of Galaxy S26+ and Galaxy S26 Ultra may retail at 1,452,000 won and 1,797,000 won, respectively. This is an increase of 99,000 won for the former and 98,600 won for the latter compared to their predecessors.

If you are planning to buy the 512GB model, you might have to think twice. The Galaxy S26 could cost around 1.46 million won (~$1,000), while the S26+ may go official at around 1.66 million won (~$1,135). Likewise, the Galaxy S26 Ultra may hit stores at around 2 million won (~$1,365). These figures mean a price increase of up to 160,000 won (~$110) compared to last year’s models.

That said, the price for the 512GB models may still change depending on consumer acceptance. “It is observed that the price increase for the 512GB model is even greater, and they are still agonizing over the final unit of price until the very end of the product release,” an industry insider told the outlet.

Blame skyrocketing memory prices for the price hike

Samsung froze prices for three consecutive generations of the Galaxy S flagship (S23, S24, and S25 series). While the company tried to minimize the increase, skyrocketing memory prices have made a price hike unavoidable. However, there’s chatter that the company may introduce the Galaxy S26 series with the same pricing structure as its predecessors in the US. But things will be clear only when the firm debuts the lineup on February 25.

The good news is that the double storage pre-order benefit will likely remain in place, at least in some markets, despite earlier rumors that Samsung might cut this incentive. If you are interested in buying any of the Galaxy S26 models, don’t forget to take advantage of our Mystery Box program (US only). It includes a free 65W GaN charger, phone case, phone stand, cleaning kit, and more.