According to reports, Samsung has been experiencing internal conflict because it does not want to raise the starting price of its upcoming Galaxy S26 series, especially after Apple maintained the price of the iPhone 17. That objective was challenging because to tariffs, growing component costs, and the persistent DRM shortage. It appears that the business has finally made a decision, and for the time being, it intends to refrain from raising prices.
According to a Korean report (via @jukan05), Samsung will maintain the Galaxy S26’s beginning pricing at the same level as the Galaxy S25. Accordingly, the S26+ and S26 Ultra will retail for $999 and $1,299, respectively, while the entry-level S26 will start at $799.
It appears that this decision will reduce the company’s profit margins by 10% to 15%, although the strong margins in DRAM and NAND would help counteract the effect.
Most likely, only the US market will be subject to the price freeze. Due to the weakening value of the Korean won, Samsung will mostly raise prices in its home country of South Korea. European and other Asian markets may possibly see a comparable rise.
It would be the fourth year in a row that Samsung has avoided raising the price of its flagship phones if it is able to maintain pricing.
According to the source, the Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Flip 8, which are scheduled to come later in 2026, will also be subject to the price freeze.
Although not stated, Samsung’s decision to maintain the price of its flagship phones and foldables for 2026 was probably influenced by Apple’s choice to maintain the pricing of the iPhone 17.
Since it is widely anticipated that Apple will release its first foldable iPhone this year, the Korean company cannot afford to run the risk of alienating consumers with a price increase.
Expect higher prices for upcoming mid-range Galaxy A phones
However, it appears that Samsung will raise prices of its mid-range Galaxy A phones. These models’ lower profit margins provide company little to no leeway to absorb the sharp increase in component costs.
Unfortunately, there won’t be any significant hardware enhancements to go along with the price hike. Therefore, the majority of buyers will ultimately pay more for no discernible improvement. Unfortunately, the majority of phones released in 2026 may just follow this pattern.
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Robert Haba is the founder and editor-in-chief of Droid Tools. A lifelong gadget enthusiast with over a decade following the Android ecosystem, he built this publication to cut through the noise and give readers honest, real-world coverage of the tech they actually use.
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