Samsung has yet to determine the price of its Galaxy S26 flagship series despite mass production already underway and an expected launch in February 2026, as soaring memory costs triggered by the artificial intelligence boom threaten the company’s profit margins.
The South Korean tech giant faces a delicate balancing act with its most important smartphone line, which serves as a major revenue driver and directly competes with Apple’s iPhone. Korean financial outlet The Bell reports that memory prices have skyrocketed because factories, RAM and flash storage are being diverted to power AI data centres, squeezing Samsung’s pricing strategy.
The dilemma became apparent with Samsung’s most recent device, the Galaxy Z Trifold, released in limited quantities last December. The company initially planned to sell the innovative foldable for over 4 million won, approximately $2,750, but slashed the price to 3.59 million won, around $2,460, to compete with Huawei’s Mate XT. Samsung reportedly sold the Trifold at a loss, a luxury it cannot afford with the mass-market Galaxy S26 series.
The Galaxy S26 Ultra, set to debut at Samsung’s Galaxy Unpacked event, draws more attention to the company than any other product launch. Pricing it too high risks pushing customers toward Apple or rival Android manufacturers, whilst absorbing rising costs could damage profitability on Samsung’s flagship “cash cow.”
Leaked specifications reveal the S26 Ultra will feature a 6.9-inch Dynamic LTPO AMOLED 2X display with 120Hz refresh rate and peak brightness of 2,600 nits. The device runs on Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset built on 3nm process, paired with up to 16GB RAM and 1TB storage on the top-tier model.
The camera system retains a quad setup: a 200MP main sensor with f/1.7 aperture, a 10MP telephoto with 3x optical zoom, a 50MP periscope telephoto offering 5x zoom, and a 50MP ultrawide lens. The front camera remains at 12MP. Video capabilities extend to 8K recording at 30fps.
Battery capacity stays at 5,000mAh, a decision that has sparked considerable frustration among potential buyers. User comments on technology forums reveal growing discontent with Samsung’s conservative approach to battery size whilst Chinese competitors offer 6,500mAh to 7,500mAh cells in flagship devices.
One user noted: “Flagship phones nowadays have at least 6500mAh to 7500mah,” whilst another suggested Samsung should equip the S26 with 5,000mAh, the S26 Plus with 5,500mAh, and the S26 Ultra with 6,000mAh. The frustration extends beyond capacity to charging speeds, with 60W wired charging appearing modest compared to rivals offering faster solutions.
Several users questioned why Samsung maintains the same battery size it has used for five years. One user explained that Chinese manufacturers simply pay higher transport fees for shipping devices with batteries exceeding 20Wh capacity under international regulations, rather than circumventing rules as some suggest. Samsung’s adherence to conservative battery specifications appears linked to older cell technology rather than strict regulatory compliance.
The camera specifications also drew mixed reactions. Whilst the 200MP main sensor and improved ultrawide lens garnered approval, users expressed disappointment that the 10MP telephoto lens carries over unchanged. “They were on a path to upgrade each lens every year,” one user wrote. “But I guess they’re saving that one as a major upgrade for S99 Ultra. They used to mock Apple for not upgrading and now Apple is actually the one that changes things.”
Other criticisms focused on the absence of expandable storage, with users lamenting Samsung’s decision to remove SD card slots, previously a key advantage over iPhones. One user pleaded: “Samsung we want SD card back. This was your pros compared to iPhones since their beginning. Bring it back.”
The debate over unchanged specifications intensified with users noting that little has evolved since the S22 Ultra. “Nothing special. Since S22 Ultra it’s all the same,” one user wrote, capturing a sentiment echoed across forums. Another user dismissed the entire lineup as “waste mobile,” whilst someone else labelled it “so expensive for cheap good.”
The S26 Ultra measures 7.9mm thick and weighs 214g, featuring Corning Gorilla Armor 2 protection on the front, Gorilla Glass Victus 2 on the back, and a grade 5 titanium frame. It carries IP68 water and dust resistance, supports the S Pen stylus, and includes Samsung DeX functionality.
Connectivity options comprise Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4, Ultra Wideband support, and USB Type-C 3.2 with DisplayPort 1.2. The device ships with Android 16 and One UI 8, promising seven major Android upgrades, Samsung’s longest support commitment yet.
Despite the impressive specifications on paper, user sentiment suggests Samsung faces an uphill battle justifying any price increase. “Tired of being forced to upgrade when they limit models to only so many versions,” one user complained. “If your device is still operative and can be updated then Samsung should provide updates.”
Another user defended the company’s incremental approach, arguing: “Why do you guys keep defending Samsung when they are unable to offer something new? What doesn’t matter for you may matter for me we all have different preferences why are being salty? The addition of new features may serve you as well when you need it one day.”
The company must finalise pricing soon as the February launch approaches, navigating between maintaining profit margins on its flagship line and avoiding a price point that alienates customers already questioning the value proposition of incremental upgrades, unchanged battery capacity, and removed features like expandable storage. With component costs rising and competition intensifying, Samsung’s pricing decision will determine whether the S26 Ultra maintains its position as a viable iPhone alternative or becomes another victim of market pressures.
