What you might want to know
- Samsung reportedly nonetheless hasn’t locked in Galaxy S26 pricing, even with launch simply months away.
- Rising element costs are mentioned to be the core drawback, particularly for digicam modules, OLED panels, and reminiscence.
- To chop prices, Samsung is leaning on Exynos chips for some Galaxy S26 and S26 Plus fashions, whereas pricier Snapdragon chips stay for key markets just like the U.S.
With solely two months to go earlier than the anticipated February 2026 launch, you would possibly assume Samsung has the whole lot concerning the Galaxy S26 sequence sorted out. However stories from Korea say the corporate nonetheless hasn’t selected the value.
A report from The Bell says Samsung is having hassle setting costs for its new flagship telephones — the Galaxy S26, S26 Plus, and S26 Extremely — as a result of the numbers aren’t understanding (by way of SamMobile).
The primary problem is that making these telephones has grow to be far more costly. A number of key elements are getting pricier on the similar time, together with digicam modules, OLED screens, and particularly cell DRAM (reminiscence).
{Hardware} prices are hovering
IDC stories that rising demand for AI information facilities has made reminiscence chips more durable to get, which is elevating costs for everybody. With greater prices, smaller revenue margins, and international financial challenges, Samsung has to rethink its pricing to keep away from shedding prospects.
Samsung President Roh Tae-Moon is alleged to be asking suppliers to decrease their costs, however there’s solely a lot they will do. The corporate is already promoting the Galaxy Z TriFold at a loss to point out off its know-how and achieve market share. Nevertheless, the Galaxy S sequence is Samsung’s predominant supply of revenue, so it may possibly’t afford to lose cash on tens of millions of those telephones simply to maintain costs low.
To cope with these prices, Samsung is utilizing completely different processors in numerous fashions. The usual Galaxy S26 and S26 Plus will probably use Samsung’s personal Exynos 2600 chip in some areas. This helps the corporate keep away from paying further for Qualcomm’s Snapdragon chips.
Nevertheless, the Extremely mannequin and, most likely, the usual fashions in vital markets just like the U.S. will nonetheless use Qualcomm chips, they usually do not come low-cost. Since Samsung can’t cease utilizing these pricier chips, it faces a troublesome resolution: both settle for decrease income or increase costs and threat promoting fewer telephones.
The official reveal is anticipated in February 2026. Till then, if you happen to’re ready for the S26, it’s a good suggestion to start out saving some more money now. You would possibly want it.
