Samsung just increased Galaxy S26 prices

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Samsung has quietly increased local pricing for the Galaxy S26 family, with the entry level now starting at $1,649. That's a $100 increase compared to the phone's original launch price, back in March. Most Galaxy S26 models have the same $100 increase, the 1TB Galaxy S26 Ultra had a steeper increase of $250. This takes its asking price to $3,199.

Here's how pricing has changed for the Galaxy S26 family: 

• Galaxy S26 256GB: Was $1,549, now $1,649
• Galaxy S26 512GB: Was $1,849, now $1,949

• Galaxy S26 Plus 256GB: Was $1,849, now $1,949
• Galaxy S26 Plus 512GB: Was $2,149, now $2,249

• Galaxy S26 Ultra 256GB: Was $2,199, now $2,299
• Galaxy S26 Ultra 512GB: Was $2,499, now $2,599
• Galaxy S26 Ultra 1TB: Was $2,949, now $3,199

At time of writing, retailers like JB Hi-Fi have yet to apply Samsung's price rises. In fact, JB Hi-Fi even has a $500 discount on the Galaxy S26 Ultra.

Samsung didn't increase prices for the newly launched Galaxy S26 FE, or its latest foldable phones. 

While unprecedented, the price increases to older models come during the component crisis, where generative AI-led demand has dramatically upped the price of memory and storage. When Apple introduced the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max last month, it also increased prices for several older models, going as far back as the iPhone 16. Most older iPhones went up by between $100 and $150, but 1TB iPhone Air got a $500 price hike. 

Alex Choros

Managing Editor + Group Telco Editor | X | Instagram | Threads | LinkedIn

Alex Choros is the Managing Editor of WhistleOut Australia and an award-winning journalist. He's been writing about consumer technology for over a decade and is an expert on the Australian telco sector, to the point where he knows far too many phone and internet plans by heart. In addition to leading the WhistleOut editorial team, Alex is responsible for ruining the office Sonos with his troubled taste in music.

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