Galaxy S26 Price Reportedly Rises KRW 149,600 in South Korea on October 1
Samsung plans to raise the price of every Galaxy S26 model in South Korea by KRW 149,600 from October 1, according to a Korean business newspaper report citing pricing notices sent to the country's mobile carriers. If it goes ahead, the base Galaxy S26 would cost KRW 1,403,600, and the S26 Ultra would cross KRW 1.9 million seven months after launch.
Samsung has not confirmed the change. As of this morning its Korean online store still lists the old prices, with no notice of an adjustment.
Old and new prices, model by model
The reported rise is a flat amount rather than a percentage, so it hits the cheapest phone hardest. We checked the starting figures in the report against Samsung Korea's official store, and all three match the current 256GB prices exactly.
- Galaxy S26 (256GB): KRW 1,254,000 now, KRW 1,403,600 from October 1, an increase of about 11.9%
- Galaxy S26+ (256GB): KRW 1,452,000 now, KRW 1,601,600 from October 1, about 10.3%
- Galaxy S26 Ultra (256GB): KRW 1,797,400 now, KRW 1,947,000 from October 1, about 8.3%
The report only covers the 256GB versions. Samsung Korea currently sells the S26 and S26+ at 512GB for KRW 1,507,000 and KRW 1,705,000, and the S26 Ultra 1TB for KRW 2,545,400. Whether those tiers rise by the same flat amount has not been reported.
This would be the second rise for this generation
The S26 series already launched in February at KRW 99,000 more than the equivalent Galaxy S25 models, which started at KRW 1,155,000 for the base phone and KRW 1,698,400 for the Ultra. Stack the October increase on top, and a base Galaxy S26 bought in Korea after October 1 would cost KRW 248,600 more than a Galaxy S25 did at launch.
Mid-cycle price rises on a flagship are unusual. Phones normally get cheaper as they age, through official cuts or carrier promotions. The report points to the same cause behind most of this year's hardware price increases: memory. DRAM supply has been pulled towards high-bandwidth memory for AI chips, leaving less for phones and pushing up what manufacturers pay for it. Xiaomi has already raised Poco prices in Japan for the same reason, and Samsung's own Galaxy S26 FE launched at $699.99 last month.
Where this applies, and where it does not
Everything reported so far concerns South Korea only. There is no indication of a matching change in the US, Europe, India or any other market, and prices there remain as they were. Samsung often sets Korean pricing separately from its global list prices, so a domestic increase does not automatically spread.
Korean buyers should keep in mind that carrier subsidies are calculated against the retail price. A higher starting price can be partly hidden by bigger carrier discounts, or it can simply raise what you pay on a contract. Retailers quoted in the report worry the change will push more buyers towards the second-hand market.
What to do if you were planning to buy
If you are in South Korea and already set on a Galaxy S26, buying before October 1 locks in today's price, and the S26 Ultra is currently carrying an extra discount on Samsung's store. You can compare the current listings on Samsung Korea's Galaxy S26 store page. If the increase is confirmed, that page is where the new figures will show up first. Existing owners are not affected, and software support such as the One UI 9 beta is unchanged.
Until Samsung or the carriers confirm the October figures, treat the new prices as reported rather than final.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Galaxy S26 getting more expensive?
In South Korea, reportedly yes. A Korean newspaper report citing notices sent to carriers says the Galaxy S26, S26+ and S26 Ultra will each rise by KRW 149,600 on October 1, 2026. Samsung has not officially confirmed the change.
How much will the Galaxy S26 Ultra cost in Korea after October 1?
According to the report, the 256GB Galaxy S26 Ultra goes from KRW 1,797,400 to KRW 1,947,000. The base Galaxy S26 goes from KRW 1,254,000 to KRW 1,403,600, and the S26+ from KRW 1,452,000 to KRW 1,601,600.
Will Galaxy S26 prices go up in the US or Europe?
Nothing reported so far points to that. The October 1 increase covers South Korea only, and US and European prices are unchanged. Samsung sets Korean pricing separately, so a domestic rise does not automatically apply elsewhere.
Why is Samsung raising Galaxy S26 prices?
The report attributes it to rising memory costs. DRAM supply has shifted towards high-bandwidth memory for AI chips, which has made phone memory scarcer and more expensive. Several other phone makers have raised prices this year for the same reason.
Should I buy a Galaxy S26 before October 1?
If you live in South Korea and already plan to buy one, purchasing before October 1 avoids the reported KRW 149,600 increase. Buyers outside Korea are not affected by this change. Existing owners pay nothing extra.
