Samsung’s next-generation flagship lineup, the Galaxy S26 series, might arrive with a higher price tag compared to this year’s Galaxy S25 lineup. According to new reports, the reason is simple — the rising cost of key components that power these premium smartphones.
Why Prices Might Go Up
A report from South Korean publication ETNews suggests that Samsung is facing increased manufacturing costs, mainly due to the higher prices of chipsets and memory. These are two of the most expensive components in any smartphone, and their global price hikes have directly affected production costs.
To maintain its profit margins, Samsung is reportedly planning to increase the prices of all three models — the Galaxy S26, Galaxy S26+, and Galaxy S26 Ultra.
If the report turns out to be true, Indian buyers may have to pay a little extra when the phones launch early next year.
A Quick Recap of Galaxy S25 Prices
The Galaxy S25 lineup went on sale in India in February 2025, starting at ₹80,999 for the base Galaxy S25 model (12GB RAM + 256GB storage). The 512GB variant was priced at ₹92,999.
The Galaxy S25+ started at ₹99,999 for the 256GB version, going up to ₹1,11,999 for the 512GB model.
As for the Galaxy S25 Ultra, Samsung’s top-tier flagship, it launched at ₹1,29,999 for the 256GB base variant, ₹1,41,999 for 512GB, and a hefty ₹1,65,999 for the 1TB edition.
So, if the rumored hike happens, we might see the Galaxy S26 Ultra cross the ₹1.7 lakh mark, depending on configuration and market conditions.
When to Expect the Launch
Samsung typically unveils its Galaxy S series in late January or early February, but this time, things might be different.
Reports suggest the company will host its next Galaxy Unpacked event on February 25, 2026, in San Francisco, California — marking Samsung’s first launch event in the city in three years.
The slightly delayed timeline is reportedly due to “product lineup adjustments”, hinting that Samsung may be fine-tuning the series before launch.
What’s Expected Inside the Galaxy S26
Under the hood, the Galaxy S26 series is shaping up to be one of Samsung’s most advanced yet. The phones are expected to feature Samsung’s in-house Exynos 2600 chipset in select regions — built on an efficient 2nm process.
Meanwhile, other markets (including India) will likely get models powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, the company’s latest and most powerful 3nm octa-core processor.
With improved performance, efficiency, and AI features, the S26 lineup could represent one of Samsung’s biggest generational leaps in recent years.
