Galaxy S26 price might stay steady, but it could still leave fans disappointed

Smartphone prices are on the rise, and while Apple is expected to lead the way this year, Samsung might follow later. For now, at least in the US, Galaxy S26 pricing is expected to stay steady compared to the Galaxy S25. But there still might be a change on the horizon – and it’s not about paying more.

Early buyers could lose a popular perk

Just recently, we mentioned that Samsung might reportedly scrap the free double storage pre-order promotion. Now, another source (translated source) is confirming the same thing.

One of the reasons fans rush to pre-order new Galaxy phones is the free double storage upgrade. Typically, if you pre-order a Galaxy S device, such as the upcoming S26, Samsung bumps your storage from 256 GB to 512 GB at no extra cost. That upgrade alone usually costs around $120, which is a pretty big deal when buying a flagship.

If Samsung follows through, the Galaxy S26 could become the first Galaxy flagship in years to launch without this early-buyer bonus.

The decision seems tied to rising chip and memory costs, as well as broader market pressures. This could be Samsung’s way of keeping the base price steady without hiking it for everyone. Whether losing the free storage will fully offset cost increases is unclear, but as I mentioned in the beginning, at least in the US, the S26’s launch price should remain the same as the S25.

Why the perk mattered

Nobody turns down extra storage, especially when it comes free. It’s no wonder this perk has been one of the fan favorites, and for good reason. Sure, giving away extra storage cut into Samsung’s profit per unit, but it also helped drive early sales and got people pre-ordering faster.

But, honestly, if Samsung actually decides to drop it, it wouldn’t be a huge shock – particularly if the launch price itself stays the same. If the perk really does disappear – which we’ll find out soon, with the Galaxy S26 launch right around the corner – Samsung will likely lean even more on keeping the price steady in a tough market as a key selling point.

That approach makes sense, especially because not much is radically changing with this generation of Galaxy phones. There are some upgrades here and there, but nothing that’s breaking entirely new ground. The phone is solid, but this time, the focus seems to be on refining what’s already familiar rather than reinventing it.

• When is the Galaxy S26 coming? Here's what leaks suggest so far
• Galaxy S26: five reasons to get Samsung’s base model flagship instead of the S26 Ultra
• Galaxy S26 Ultra: 9 hot upgrades coming this February
• Galaxy S26 price: even a $1 price jack-up would be a crime. Let's talk about money!