Samsung’s Galaxy S26 lineup options in-house Exynos processors and the S26 Extremely with the trade’s first built-in cellular privacy display.
Samsung Electronics on Thursday launched its flagship Galaxy S26 smartphones with higher costs for some fashions in america and South Korea, testing demand as hovering reminiscence chip prices strain margins.
AI options integration
The rollout, which integrates Perplexity’s AI options together with Google’s Gemini and an upgraded Bixby, follows Samsung’s lack of smartphone management final 12 months to Apple, which benefited from robust iPhone demand in China and India.
Worsening chip scarcity
The corporate final month warned of a worsening chip scarcity pushed by the AI increase, with robust reminiscence demand supporting its core chip enterprise however pressuring smartphones and display items.
A world push by companies akin to Meta, Google and Microsoft to construct AI infrastructure has absorbed a lot of reminiscence provide, lifting costs as chipmakers prioritise higher-margin information centre parts akin to high-bandwidth reminiscence chips over client gadgets.
Value hike particulars
Samsung priced the bottom Galaxy S26 at $899 in america, up 4.7% from the earlier mannequin, and the S26 Plus at $1,099, up 10%. Costs for the Extremely have been unchanged. In South Korea, it raised the bottom mannequin value by 8.6%.
Shift to Exynos processors
The corporate additionally outfitted some S26 fashions with in-house Exynos processors after utilizing Qualcomm’s Snapdragon chips for the S25, a shift analysts mentioned might assist its chip design enterprise and cellular margins.
Cell privacy display
Samsung mentioned the S26 Extremely consists of what it calls the trade’s first built-in cellular privacy display, limiting aspect viewing angles.
Rollout date
The corporate mentioned it should start rolling out the S26 collection on March 11.
Market tracker TrendForce anticipated typical DRAM contract costs to surge by 90% to 95% within the January to March interval of this 12 months, from the ultimate three months of 2025.
Apple’s Tim Cook dinner mentioned in a post-earnings convention name in January he anticipated reminiscence chip costs to extend sharply, however declined to reply analysts’ questions on whether or not Apple would elevate costs in response.
Revealed on February 25, 2026
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