Samsung May Hike Galaxy S26 Prices as Memory Costs Soar

The global surge in memory semiconductor prices is starting to ripple through the tech industry, and Samsung may not be immune. As DRAM prices continue to climb due to an AI-driven demand boom, the company is reportedly considering a price increase for its upcoming Galaxy S26 series. The Exynos 2600 could be a savior, though.

The DRAM “super boom” may drive up Galaxy S26 prices

According to industry reports, memory semiconductors are now significantly more expensive, with little expectation of price stabilization anytime soon. The rise stems from the so-called “memory super boom” triggered by the AI revolution. As major chipmakers prioritize high-bandwidth memory (HBM) production, which costs up to six times more than standard DRAM, the supply of general-purpose DRAM has tightened.

This imbalance is driving prices higher across the board, and the effects are already visible. Xiaomi recently raised the prices of its budget K90 smartphone, citing memory costs. Similar pressures are reportedly being felt by other manufacturers, including Samsung. The Korean giant is now evaluating how these market dynamics could affect its upcoming Galaxy S26 lineup.

While rising component costs may push Samsung to reconsider its pricing strategy, the company holds one major advantage over rivals: its in-house Exynos chips. If it uses the Exynos 2600 in a broader range of Galaxy S26 and S26+ models, it could help offset rising costs. Exynos chips are cheaper than competing Qualcomm Snapdragon processors, thus lowering per-unit expenses.

Of course, Samsung also makes DRAM chips. However, its semiconductor and smartphone divisions are independent business units. They have a buy-sell relationship, so the smartphone unit may not be able to negotiate the DRAM prices much. The Galaxy S26 series already looks delayed due to some last-minute changes in the plan. It remains to be seen how Samsung handles this “memory inflation.”