Galaxy S26 Price Increase: Samsung Just Added $100, Here’s How to Still Pay the Old Price

Samsung just made its flagship phones more expensive in the US, seven months after launch. The Galaxy S26 price increase adds $100 to almost every S26, S26+ and S26 Ultra model on Samsung.com, and $200 to the top 1TB Ultra. The good news: big retailers haven’t caught up yet, so you can still buy at the old price if you move fast.

Here’s the short version before we get into the details.

• When: New prices went live on Samsung.com on October 1, 2026. Galaxy A-series hikes followed on October 2.
• Who’s affected: Galaxy S26, S26+, S26 Ultra, plus the budget Galaxy A57, A37, A27 and A17 in the US.
• How much: +$100 on most S26 models, +$200 on the 1TB Ultra, +$20 to +$70 on A-series phones.
• Not affected (for now): Galaxy S26 FE and the Galaxy Z Fold 8.
• Escape hatch: Amazon and Walmart were still selling at or below the old prices as of October 4.

Every Galaxy S26 Price Increase, Model by Model

The base Galaxy S26 now starts at $999.99, which puts Samsung’s “regular” flagship in the same bracket that used to belong to Ultra-class phones. The 1TB Ultra is the outlier, jumping a full $200 to $1,999.99, according to Android Headlines.

Samsung didn’t announce this with a press release. The prices simply changed on its store, as 9to5Google first spotted. Per GSMArena, the same $100 bump has also shown up in Europe and India.

Budget Galaxy A Phones Got Hit Too

If you were hoping to dodge this by buying cheaper, that door closed a day later. On October 2, Samsung quietly raised the US prices of four Galaxy A models, 9to5Google reports.

The dollar amounts look small, but they hurt more at this end of the market. A $70 jump on a $539 phone is a 13% increase. 9to5Google also notes this is the second big hike for Samsung’s cheapest A-series phone, which once started at $199. That makes it a much harder sell as a “cheap Samsung.”

Why Samsung Is Charging More Now

Samsung hasn’t given an official reason. Every outlet covering the story points at the same culprit, though: memory chips.

AI data centers are buying up huge amounts of DRAM and storage, and phone makers are paying more for the same parts. We covered how badly this has hit PC buyers in our breakdown of the RAM price crisis, and phones are now feeling it too. It also explains why the biggest jump lands on the 1TB Ultra, the model with the most storage inside.

There’s a business angle as well. According to Engadget, Samsung’s mobile division posted a loss in Q2 2026, blamed on higher component costs. Raising prices mid-cycle is one way to protect margins without waiting for the next launch.

Samsung isn’t alone here. Motorola raised prices on its 2026 Moto G phones earlier this year, so this looks like an industry trend rather than a one-off.

How to Still Get the Old Galaxy S26 Price

Third-party stores set their own prices, and many haven’t updated yet. That gap is your window. Here’s where to look first.

• Amazon: Per GSMArena, Amazon US was still listing the S26 lineup at or below its original launch prices as of October 4.
• Walmart: GSMArena also found Walmart hadn’t applied the new prices, with discounts well below launch pricing on some models.
• Prime Big Deal Days: Amazon’s fall sale starts Tuesday, October 6. Expect S26 deals, though you’ll need a Prime membership.
• Samsung.com trade-ins: Samsung’s own store still offers instant discounts and trade-in credit, which can cancel out the hike if you have an older phone to hand in.

Retail prices can change overnight, so check the final price at checkout before you commit. If a store still shows the old number, it’s probably only a matter of days before it matches Samsung.

Should You Buy a Galaxy S26 Now or Wait?

If you were already planning to buy an S26 this year, the next week or two is the best time. A discounted retailer listing during Prime Big Deal Days could land you well under the new $999.99 base price.

Waiting for the Galaxy S27 isn’t a clean escape. Memory costs aren’t easing, and Android Headlines expects next year’s lineup to cost even more. Today’s “expensive” S26 may look like a bargain by spring.

If you want a Samsung phone without the flagship tax, the Galaxy S26 FE kept its price this round. It’s the safest value pick in the lineup right now, at least until Samsung revisits it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Did Samsung raise Galaxy S26 prices worldwide?

The US hike is confirmed on Samsung.com. GSMArena reports similar $100 increases in Europe and India, and Korea saw a hike earlier.

Is the Galaxy S26 FE more expensive now?

No. The Galaxy S26 FE kept its price, and so did the Galaxy Z Fold 8. That could change later, since Samsung hasn’t commented.

Will Amazon and Best Buy raise their Galaxy S26 prices too?

Very likely, but not on a fixed date. Retailers set their own prices and usually follow the manufacturer over time, so deals at the old price won’t last forever.

Why is the 1TB Galaxy S26 Ultra $200 more?

Storage chips are one of the parts rising fastest in price. The model with the most storage carries the biggest cost increase, and Samsung passed that on.

Will the Galaxy S27 cost more than the S26?

Nothing is official yet. Outlets like Android Headlines expect higher pricing, since memory costs show no sign of dropping soon.

My take: if an S26 is on your list, buy it this week from a retailer still showing the old price, ideally during Prime Big Deal Days. Don’t buy straight from Samsung.com without a trade-in, because you’d be paying the new price for no reason. And if you’re on a tight budget, skip the freshly hiked A-series and look at the S26 FE or a discounted older flagship instead.