Samsung has officially addressed the price increases for its Galaxy S26 lineup compared to the previous generation. As reported by The Verge, Won-Joon Choi, Executive Vice President and COO of Samsung’s mobile division, identified critical factors behind the surge, including a global RAM shortage and overall rising component expenditures.
In an interview with the publication, the executive acknowledged that memory scarcity significantly contributed to the new pricing for the Galaxy S26 and S26 Plus models. Additionally, the price tags were influenced by increasing material costs and shifting tariff policies. As a result, the new flagships are starting at $100 more than their predecessors.
The base Galaxy S26 now comes with a minimum of 256 GB of storage, yet at its $899 price point, it remains $40 more expensive than the equivalent S25 version with the same capacity at launch. This price adjustment has impacted not only the American market but also global sales.
The premium Galaxy S26 Ultra features technical upgrades that partially justify its cost. The smartphone is equipped with a built-in privacy screen and the largest vapor chamber cooling system ever seen in a Samsung device.
Supply chain challenges have also been confirmed by the South Korean giant's partners. Qualcomm’s February report recorded a 100% downturn in its mobile chip segment due to component shortages. Experts note that the AI industry's high demand for microchips will continue to shape the smartphone market throughout the year.