Samsung plans Galaxy S26 Ultra price hike to 1.8 million won

Sticker shock is coming for a flagship phone that banks on AI flair to justify a higher bill.

Galaxy S26 Ultra pricing shift

• Samsung plans a Galaxy S26 Ultra launch push.
• The estimated price lands near 1.8 million won.
• Jumps roughly six percent over the prior model.

Cost pressure is driving the hike

• DRAM shortages pushed component costs upward.
• NAND flash pricing followed the same direction.
• Absorbing increases internally looks unlikely.

Comparison with Galaxy S25 Ultra

• Galaxy S25 Ultra debuted at 1.69 million won.
• Base storage level referenced at 256GB.
• The gap reflects higher parts expenses.

Strategy beyond raw specs

• Samsung leadership acknowledged memory supply pain.
• Focus shifts away from spec-sheet arms races.
• Emphasis is placed on user-facing improvements.

Features meant to sell the premium

• Next-gen AI experience positioned as a draw.
• Slightly faster Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 noted.
• The new camera sensor supports the pivot.

Sales and market positioning

• Bundled perks used to widen buyer appeal.
• Freebies vary by region.
• Apple recently overtook Samsung in shipments.