Samsung Galaxy S26 series may get costlier due to memory and chipset costs

The rumour mill is closely monitoring the Galaxy S26 series, not only because it is shaping up to be one of Samsung’s most anticipated flagship lineups, but also due to pricing concerns. According to South Korean publication The Bell, Samsung is facing increasing cost pressures across its smartphone supply chain.

While the company has not officially confirmed anything, these developments are raising questions about whether the next flagship series can maintain current price levels.

Rising costs are squeezing Galaxy S26 margins

Samsung’s mobile division is reportedly under sustained pressure as component prices continue to rise. Memory remains the biggest concern, with strong demand from AI servers and data centres pushing prices higher and limiting supply for consumer electronics.

Several market trackers expect memory prices to climb by another 30 to 40 percent next year, directly increasing smartphone manufacturing costs. Processor costs are adding to the challenge as well. Samsung previously balanced expenses by using Exynos processors in some regions and Snapdragon chips in others.

However, weaker Exynos competitiveness has increased reliance on Snapdragon chipsets, which are built using advanced manufacturing nodes that come with significantly higher costs. This shift has reduced Samsung’s flexibility in price negotiations and further narrowed margins for the Galaxy S26 lineup.

Other components are also becoming more expensive. OLED displays, camera modules, and supporting hardware have all seen gradual price increases. In addition, labour and marketing expenses have risen due to inflation and intensifying competition, making it increasingly difficult for Samsung to absorb these costs internally.

Pricing trade-offs and strategic pressure

Samsung’s recent Galaxy Z TriFold launch highlights this dilemma. Despite extremely high production costs, the device was priced aggressively to showcase technological leadership rather than maximise profitability. Reports suggest that it is being sold at a loss, raising doubts about whether such a strategy can be repeated.

The Galaxy S26 series plays a far more critical role as Samsung’s primary volume driver. Raising prices could help protect margins but may risk slowing demand, while keeping prices unchanged could significantly impact profitability. For reference, the Galaxy S25, S25+, and S25 Ultra were launched at Rs 80,999, Rs 99,999, and Rs 1,29,999, respectively.

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Keep coming back to Unboxed by Croma for all the latest updates on the Galaxy S26 series.