Why Has the Price of the Galaxy S26 Increased?
On paper, the Samsung Galaxy S26 lineup seems like a fairly standard update. The phones get a new chip, some new AI features , slight improvements in battery life and charging speed (depending on the model), and even a cool new feature called ” Privacy Display.” But once you add one of these new phones to your cart, you’ll notice another change: the two Galaxy S26 models cost $100 more than their Galaxy S25 counterparts when they launched last year.
We all hoped this wouldn’t happen, but as demand for AI makes components like storage , memory , and even displays increasingly expensive, the first major tech launch of the year showed us that prices will rise accordingly. This year, two Galaxy S26 models have increased in price by $100—but at least the most expensive variants remain unscathed.
Why does the Galaxy S26 cost $100 more?
Perhaps the most noticeable casualty of the S26 price hike is the base model, which has increased from $799 for the S25 to $899 for the S26. This makes it more expensive than the iPhone 17, but you get something better in return. This isn’t so much a price increase as a reduction in variants: to match the new price, Samsung also increased the storage capacity of the base S26 to 256GB (from 128GB on the S25). This means Samsung will have to produce fewer variants of the base model, which will likely help it cope with ongoing component shortages while maintaining stable prices for the most popular configurations.
I say “close” because the 256GB version of the S26 is still slightly more expensive than the 256GB version of the S25. That one costs $859, so whether the extra $40 is worth it depends on how important the larger battery, new chip, and 0.1-inch larger display are to you. As a base model, the S26 doesn’t offer the most impressive improvements over its predecessor, but it arguably performs better than the non-Ultra S26.
The Galaxy S26+ costs the same as the iPhone 17 Pro.
Perhaps the biggest casualty of the Samsung S26 price hike is the Galaxy S26+, which now starts at $1,099, compared to $999 for the S25+. Explaining this increase is a bit more difficult, as the base version hasn’t received any storage upgrades. It still starts with 256GB of storage, has a 6.7-inch display, and the same 50MP/12MP/10MP rear camera system. Privacy Display—the Ultra’s most striking new feature—isn’t even included. The most significant upgrade on paper is the new Snapdragon 8 Elite chip for the Galaxy Gen 5.
This means the upgrade will only give you slightly faster processing speeds, as well as early access to new AI features currently only available on the Galaxy S26 and Pixel 10… for now. The lack of clear competitive advantages highlights the awkward position these mid-range models currently occupy. For example, you can buy an iPhone 17 Pro for the same $1,099, and for that price you’ll get Apple’s best tech, minus the slightly larger display and battery found on the iPhone 17 Pro Max. If Samsung charges that much for a Plus model, perhaps it’s logical that Apple ditched its own Plus version in favor of the more quirky (but unique) iPhone Air .
The S26+ is certainly still a powerful phone. The new chip isn’t far behind, and while the ultra-wide and telephoto lenses are weaker than the 17 Pro’s, the main lens is actually slightly more powerful: 50 MP versus 48 MP. I wouldn’t be disappointed with the S26+, but an S25+ owner might have a hard time finding a reason to upgrade. It’s essentially the same device, just $100 more expensive.
The Galaxy S26 Ultra costs the same, probably because Samsung wants you to buy it.
While it’s unclear why Samsung released the S26+ without a compelling selling point—the company barely even mentioned it during today’s Galaxy Unpacked event—I’m guessing it’s because the company would prefer you upgrade to the Galaxy S26 Ultra. It’s the model with the most exclusive features and the most obvious improvements over the previous generation. It’s also the only model whose price hasn’t increased.
The Galaxy S26 Ultra starts at $1,299, the same as the Galaxy S25 Ultra. But for that price, you get a new chip, faster wired charging (from 45W to 60W), a display with privacy protection, improved night photography, and access to the APV codec, used in professional video recording. This is a significant improvement over other models.
For me, this means one thing: Samsung is willing to raise the barrier to entry, but will do everything possible to maintain attractive prices on its flagship devices for as long as possible. If you’re willing to buy the most expensive model, you’ll be able to avoid the price hike while still getting the most significant improvements. Everyone else will have to pay more. I’m curious to see if Apple follows this trend when it releases the iPhone 18 later this year.