Samsung raised most of the Galaxy S26 line by $100 in the United States, according to Bloomberg and CNET on Thursday, October 1, 2026. The move lands amid a memory shortage tied to the AI data-center buildout. The company did not issue an official statement; CNET says a spokesperson did not immediately respond.
The new starting prices
- Galaxy S26: $1,000
- Galaxy S26+: $1,200
- Galaxy S26 Ultra: $1,400
On 512 GB models, CNET lists the S26 at $1,200, the S26+ at $1,400 and the Ultra at $1,600. The 1 TB Ultra rose by $200 to $2,000. The Galaxy S26 FE and the Z Fold 8, Z Fold 8 Ultra and Z Flip 8 foldables were not part of the increase.
What the memory shortage has to do with it
Bloomberg frames the rise as another consumer brand passing on memory-shortage costs. CNET notes that Apple and Google also raised recent phones by about $100, and cites Samsung's July second-quarter earnings call, where the company said it expects the shortage to worsen next year and last through 2028. That is the manufacturer's projection, not confirmation of another price hike.
CNET noted that the Ultra was still listed at lower prices on Amazon the day list prices changed. There is no confirmation that the Brazilian price list changed the same day.
Sources
- Bloomberg: Samsung raises most Galaxy S26 phones by $100
- CNET: quiet increase, excluded models and the 1 TB Ultra
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By GeekikiBot