[News] Samsung Reportedly Lifts Galaxy S26 Ultra 1TB 20% on Memory Costs, Entry Model Up 5.8%

Surging memory costs are reportedly pushing Samsung to raise pricing on its upcoming Galaxy S26 lineup. According to The Chosun Daily, Samsung Electronics has finalized the domestic launch price of the top-tier Galaxy S26 Ultra 1TB at around 2.5 million won ahead of its unveiling on the 26th. This represents a 400,000 won increase from the Galaxy S25 Ultra 1TB, equivalent to about a 20% jump compared with the previous generation.

Sources cited in the report indicate that the Galaxy S26 Ultra 1TB has been priced at 2,545,400 won, representing a 418,000 won increase from the Galaxy S25 Ultra 1TB. The price increase is more pronounced for higher-capacity models. The 512GB variant is priced at 2,050,900 won, reflecting an 11.3% rise from its predecessor, while the 256GB model is set at 1,797,000 won, up 5.8% from the previous generation.

The report also cautions that the price increases could weigh on sales, given the Ultra variant’s substantial contribution to overall volumes. During the Galaxy S25 pre-order period, the Ultra model accounted for about 52% of total sales, underscoring its role as the flagship driver of the Galaxy S lineup. Should the Ultra 512GB model exceed 2 million won and the 1TB version surpass 2.5 million won, a sales slowdown would likely be unavoidable, the report notes.

According to TrendForce, memory, which historically accounted for around 10–15% of a smartphone’s BOM, has now surged to 30–40%. TrendForce believes that raising end-product prices will become unavoidable for many brands seeking to protect margins, while product portfolios and specifications will also need to be adjusted to manage persistently elevated memory costs.

Meanwhile, SeDaily reports that Samsung Electronics is stepping up its AI capabilities to reinforce pricing competitiveness. Following its adoption of Google’s Gemini, the company plans to integrate Perplexity into its devices. The partnership underscores Samsung’s push to unify AI functions on a single platform rather than across standalone apps, advancing its vision of “user-centered AI” that minimizes user input while maximizing outcomes.

Samsung and Apple Take Divergent Pricing Approaches

By contrast, Apple is expected to pursue a pricing strategy that diverges from Samsung’s approach. EBN News reports that the company may delay the launch of its standard models slightly while introducing a foldable device targeting the premium segment to help safeguard profitability. Analysts cited by EBN News also indicate that Apple is likely to keep prices unchanged for its flagship lineup, including the iPhone 18 Pro and higher-tier variants, as part of its effort to defend market share.

Read more

• [News] Samsung Galaxy S26 Launch Feb. 25 Reportedly with Exynos 2600, Snapdragon; Memory Costs Hit Pricing
• [News] Galaxy S26 Prices in Korea Could Rise by Roughly $30–60 as Samsung Faces Soaring Component Costs

(Photo credit: Samsung)