Highlights
- Price Increase: About 6% higher than Galaxy S25 Ultra.
- Estimated Cost in Korea: Around 180 million won.
- Reason: Rising DRAM and NAND flash prices.
- Chipset: Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5.
- Camera: New sensors for improved photography.
- AI Features: Enhanced next-gen user experience.
- Bundled Offers: Earphones, mobile batteries, and discounts for early buyers.
Samsung is preparing to launch its next flagship smartphone, the Galaxy S26 Ultra, and reports from South Korea suggest that the device will be priced higher than its predecessor, the Galaxy S25 Ultra. The reason behind this increase is the rising cost of memory components such as DRAM and NAND flash, which have seen global price surges.
According to Korean media, the Galaxy S26 Ultra will cost around 180 million won, which is about six percent higher than the Galaxy S25 Ultra’s launch price of 169 million won for the 256GB model. This marks a notable shift, as Samsung has already raised prices in its Galaxy Book 6 Pro laptop series, showing that the company is passing component costs directly to consumers rather than absorbing them.
Why the Price Increase?
Samsung’s co-CEO recently commented on the global memory shortage, saying that “no company can be irrelevant” to the issue. This highlights that the price hike is not just a Samsung-specific move but part of a wider industry trend.
However, Samsung is not only relying on hardware upgrades to justify the higher price. The Galaxy S26 Ultra is expected to deliver next-generation AI experiences, a Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset, and new camera sensors. Instead of focusing purely on performance numbers, Samsung appears to be shifting toward offering value-added experiences that users can feel in everyday use.
Added Value for Buyers
To soften the impact of the price increase, Samsung is expected to continue offering bundled benefits such as free earphones, mobile batteries, and early-purchase discounts. These promotions may vary by region but are designed to reduce the sense of financial burden for customers.
For Samsung, which has recently lost ground to Apple in global smartphone shipments, the Galaxy S26 Ultra is a crucial model. Even with a higher price tag, the company hopes that the combination of AI features, enhanced cameras, and bundled offers will attract buyers and strengthen its position in the premium smartphone market.
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