Samsung raises Galaxy S26 prices by $100: an 11% jump on the base phone, 7.7% on the Ultra
The memory shortage driven by AI data centers has reached Samsung's flagship phones in the US. The flat $100 hits the cheapest model hardest, and the 1TB Ultra rises $200 to $2,000.
Samsung Electronics has raised US prices on most of its Galaxy S26 lineup by $100, passing on the cost of a memory chip shortage driven by AI data centers, Investing.com reported on Thursday. Bloomberg also reported the increase. Samsung shares were up 2.79% in Seoul when Investing.com published.
A flat $100 is not a flat increase
Most headlines say "$100," but the same dollar amount means a bigger percentage on a cheaper phone. Working through the new and old prices reported by Investing.com:
| Model | Old price | New price | Increase |
|---|---|---|---|
| Galaxy S26 | $900 | $1,000 | 11.1% |
| Galaxy S26+ | $1,100 | $1,200 | 9.1% |
| Galaxy S26 Ultra | $1,300 | $1,400 | 7.7% |
| Galaxy S26 Ultra, 1TB | $1,800 | $2,000 | 11.1% |
The only model to rise $200 is the one with the most storage, the 1TB Ultra, which fits a memory-driven increase, though Samsung's reasons for each tier were not reported. The base S26 now starts at $1,000, so Samsung's entry flagship crosses the four-figure mark.
Two parts of the lineup did not change. The Galaxy S26 FE, launched in August at $700, keeps its price, and so do the new foldables: the Galaxy Z Fold 8, Z Fold 8 Ultra and Z Flip 8.
Why this is a memory story
Samsung is not the only one. Investing.com noted that Apple raised prices on its iPhone 18 Pro line and on older models, and that Google's Pixel 11 series also costs more than the previous generation. Laptops and gaming consoles have also risen over the past year as manufacturers deal with what it called an unprecedented shortage of memory chips.
The other side of this shows up in memory makers' results. When Micron reported on Wednesday, its revenue nearly quintupled while its cost of making the chips rose only 15%. That is a pricing story, and a phone maker paying those prices eventually passes them on. Micron shares were down 0.75% at $1,057.17 at 12:55 p.m. ET on Thursday, according to Nasdaq. Samsung is in an unusual position because it makes memory chips as well as phones, so the same shortage lifts one of its businesses and squeezes the other.
Who it hits
Businesses that buy phones for staff see the clearest bill. A company equipping 25 field workers with the base S26 now pays $25,000 instead of $22,500, an extra $2,500, before carrier discounts or trade-ins. Teams that do not need a flagship can choose the unchanged $700 FE. Phone retailers and carrier stores sell into a higher sticker price ahead of the holiday quarter. Repair shops may see more customers keeping old phones for longer, though we have no data yet to show that this is happening.
The open question is whether this is the last increase. As long as AI data centers keep bidding for the same DRAM and flash supply, the shortage that pushed these prices up has not ended.
Sources: Investing.com; Bloomberg; Nasdaq. Percentages and fleet math are Chronicle arithmetic. This is market information, not investment advice.
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