Overview
- Reports say pricing remains undecided roughly two months before an expected February 2026 debut, even as the Galaxy S26 line is in mass production.
- Rising memory prices tied to AI data center demand, along with pricier displays, cameras and chipsets, are pushing manufacturing costs higher.
- Samsung sold the limited Galaxy Z TriFold below its manufacturing cost, but it is not prepared to take losses on its flagship S-series.
- To contain expenses, the S26 range is expected to use Samsung’s Exynos 2600 in some regions while many models still rely on Qualcomm Snapdragon chips.
- Leadership is pressing suppliers for cost concessions, with additional strain from higher labor and marketing outlays.