The San Francisco Unpacked event just wrapped up, and I’ve been crunching the numbers on Samsung’s latest flagship trio. If you’ve been waiting to see exactly how much the Galaxy S26 series will dent your wallet, I’ve got the full global breakdown.
This year is a big one for “firsts”—we’re seeing the debut of Samsung’s 2nm Exynos 2600 in the base models, while the Ultra gets a bespoke 3nm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5. But as always, being an early adopter comes with a premium price tag.
The Processor Split: Why It Matters
For the first time, Samsung is using two different cutting-edge architectures across the lineup.
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The “Ultra” Power: The S26 Ultra uses a custom Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 (3nm). It’s built for raw speed and heavy AI processing.
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The 2nm Milestone: The S26 and S26+ are the first phones globally to run the Exynos 2600, built on a tiny 2nm process.
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The Takeaway: Smaller nanometers usually mean better battery efficiency and less heat. I’m curious to see if the “base” models actually outlast the Ultra in daily endurance thanks to that 2nm tech.
Pricing Breakdown: India vs. The World
I’ve noticed that India remains one of the more expensive regions for the Ultra, though the base models are surprisingly competitive when you look at the UK and Europe.
Galaxy S26 Ultra (Starting Prices):
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India: ₹1,39,999 (12GB/256GB)
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USA: $1,299 (~₹1,18,000)
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UAE: AED 5,099 (~₹1,26,000 for 512GB)
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UK: £1,279 (~₹1,57,000)
Galaxy S26 & S26+ (Starting Prices):
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S26 (India): Starts at ₹87,999 (12GB/256GB)
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S26+ (India): Starts at ₹1,19,999 (256GB)
Availability & Colors
Pre-orders are live right now! If you’re in India, you can grab them on Amazon, Flipkart, or the Samsung Store.
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Ultra Colors: Titanium Black, Blue, Purple, and White.
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S26 / S26+ Colors: Black, Cobalt Violet, Sky Blue, and White.
The “Analytic” Touch: Is it a Fair Deal?
If you look closely at the UAE and Germany pricing, their “base” models actually start with 512GB of storage. In India and the US, we still have a 256GB entry point. If you’re a heavy 4K video shooter, I’d highly recommend jumping to the 512GB tier—the 200MP sensor on the Ultra eats storage for breakfast.
Don’t forget to check for bank offers before you hit that pre-order button; I’m seeing some early trade-in bonuses that could shave a significant chunk off these prices.
Stay tuned as I get these units in hand for a full “Exynos vs. Snapdragon” battery drain test!
Which color are you leaning toward? That Cobalt Violet on the S26+ looks surprisingly sharp in person.
