Samsung Suddenly Raises Prices by $100 on Most Galaxy S26 Phones

Samsung has quietly increased the prices of its Galaxy S26, S26 Plus, and S26 Ultra models by $100, according to recent reports. The Galaxy S26 FE, however, remained unaffected by the price hike. Samsung's newest foldable devices, the Galaxy Z Fold 8, Z Fold 8 Ultra, and Z Flip 8, were also spared from the price increase.

The S26 model is now priced at $1,200, the S26 Plus at $1,400, and the S26 Ultra at $1,600. The 512GB variant of the S26 Ultra saw an additional $200 increase, bringing its price to $2,000. Samsung has not yet provided an official statement regarding the price changes.

The RAM shortage is primarily caused by the rapid expansion of AI data center infrastructure, which demands significant memory resources, particularly high-bandwidth memory (HBM). Other tech giants, including Apple and Google, have also raised prices by approximately $100 on their latest phone models.

Samsung's Q2 earnings call in July revealed that the memory shortage is expected to worsen next year and continue through 2028. As of the moment, no information has been disclosed on whether the Galaxy S26 devices will be available during the upcoming Amazon Prime Day, scheduled for October 6 and 7. However, CNET will be providing an ongoing update on all the available deals.

Cell phone carriers such as Verizon, T-Mobile, and AT&T may offer some relief through installment plans, trade-in credits, and refurbished devices, although these measures will not directly address the memory shortage issue. According to GlobalData senior analyst Amanda Mitchell, lasting relief depends on manufacturers expanding production capacity, which will likely take years to become a reality.

Moreover, much of the new investment is intended to cater to AI demand rather than consumer devices. Mitchell emphasizes that with meaningful new capacity years away, price pressure is likely to persist.