The seemingly never-ending Galaxy S26 series pricing saga is entering a new stage today, as a typically reliable European journalist brings fresh inside information that somehow blends past rumors calling for both hikes and unchanged figures while incredibly opening the door to a potential decrease for one model as well.
The 256GB S26 could be costlier than both the 128GB and 256GB S25
The Galaxy S26's box-office potential is not looking great at higher prices than the S25.
Because I'm sure that doesn't mean anything to pretty much anyone outside the lovely Scandinavian country, allow me to convert that number into something most of you will undoubtedly be familiar with: $1,358.
Sounds bad? Well, that obviously doesn't mean that the Galaxy S26 will start at over $1,350 in the US (which would be absurd), but I'm afraid a $900 or even $950 price point is very much possible stateside (which would also be preposterous).
That's because SEK 11,990 is over the recommended prices of the "standard" Galaxy S25 in Sweden in both 128 and 256GB storage configurations, which makes me assume that the entry-level S26 model with 256 gigs of local digital hoarding room will cost more than the two S25 variants available in the US.
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If this report is true, which Galaxy S26 model sounds better to you?
For what it's worth, a 256GB Galaxy S25 only costs $860, so perhaps Samsung will be able to keep the S26's starting price under $900 after all (at least in the US). But $800 seems almost out of the question now, which means that the Galaxy S26 is very likely to be more expensive than Apple's iPhone 17.
Good news for the Galaxy S26 Plus, incredible news for the S26 Ultra
I do mean "incredible" in the literal sense, mind you, as I'm having trouble believing that the Galaxy S26 Ultra could be cheaper than its predecessor.
But that's the rumor today, at least for 256 and 512GB storage variants, which will purportedly go down in price compared to their Galaxy S25 Ultra equivalents by 1,000 and 500 Swedish kronor, respectively. That equates to $113 and $56.50, which is not a lot, but it certainly beats a price hike.
The Galaxy S26 Ultra could be both better and cheaper than the S25 Ultra.
In the US, the S25 Ultra normally costs $1,299.99 and $1,419.99 with 256 and 512GB internal storage space respectively, so as unlikely as it may sound, it's possible that the Galaxy S26 Ultra will go down to $1,199.99 and $1,349.99 or so for the same configurations.
Meanwhile, the top-of-the-line 1TB model is expected to see its price point go unchanged, and the same goes for the cheapest Galaxy S26+ variant in comparison with an entry-level Galaxy S25+ that comes with an identical 256GB storage count.
Last but not necessarily least, the 512GB Galaxy S26 Plus is tipped to cost more than a 512 gig Galaxy S25 Plus, which is obviously not great news for digital hoarders who also love big screens and can't afford Ultra phones.
Is this the right strategy for Samsung?
I'm definitely not convinced, but at the same time, we all have to understand that rising component costs are a real problem that device manufacturers can't fix by keeping all retail prices unchanged.
These are our most recent and most trustworthy Galaxy S26, S26 Plus, and S26 Ultra depictions (with cases). | Image Credit -- Evan Blass on X
As such, I have to admit it kind of makes sense to pass those costs to consumers through more affordable phones like the base Galaxy S26 than the S26 Ultra, which is both likely to be more popular than its little brothers and carry thicker profit margins that can be trimmed here and there.
Unfortunately, another way Samsung is expected to cope with its increasing production expenses is by eliminating those free storage upgrade deals that have become tradition in recent years, and I think that's going to hurt (early) sales numbers even more than the compact S26's likely price hike.
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Adrian, a mobile technology enthusiast since the Nokia 3310 era, has been a dynamic presence in the tech journalism field, contributing to Android Authority, Digital Trends, and Pocketnow before joining PhoneArena in 2018. His expertise spans across various platforms, with a particular fondness for the diversity of the Android ecosystem. Despite the challenges of balancing full-time parenthood with his work, Adrian's passion for tech trends, running, and movies keeps him energized. His commitment to mid-range smartphones has led to an eclectic collection of devices, saved from personal bankruptcy by his preference for 'adequate' over 'overpriced'.
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