Update January 12th: Galaxy S26 Series Launch Date and Sale Window Leaked
Update January 12th 17:01 ET: We’re still in the dark about Samsung’s official pricing plan, but there is new information on when exactly the Samsung Galaxy S26 series will be available to buy. Dealabs has confirmed previous rumors that this year’s Galaxy Unpacked will take place on February 25th at 7 PM Central European Time, which would be 10 AM PT and 1 PM ET.
This is the first time we have an actual time for the event and unveiling. However, what’s more interesting is that Dealabs claims the Galaxy S26 series will go on sale in Europe on March 11th. That is within the 14-to-16-day window between the announcement and the on-sale date that Samsung has typically stuck with in previous launches. What’s different this time is that Samsung usually releases its phones on a Friday, but March 11, 2026, is a Wednesday.
While Dealabs reported that the phone will go on sale in Europe on March 11th, modern-era Samsung Galaxy S flagships usually release globally on the same day. I expect the March 11th date to apply to the U.S. too.
The final major question remains the price, with Samsung reportedly still deciding on how much its flagship Galaxy S26 series will cost. Read on for more details about Samsung’s future pricing strategy and how it could affect the company’s aggressive deals and Galaxy S26 Ultra trade-in plans.
Original story below…
After weeks of reporting from Korean media that Samsung was weighing a price increase for the Galaxy S26 series, Samsung executives have now openly said a price hike is a distinct possibility. That is, of course, bad news for consumers, but the bigger casualty will be Samsung’s hyper-aggressive deals—especially those involving the Galaxy S26 Ultra.
In case you missed it, memory prices have skyrocketed because of the AI boom, with factory space, RAM, and flash storage being diverted to powering AI data centers. That means higher costs to make a smartphone and, likely, a higher retail price.
Speaking to Reuters at CES 2026, Samsung Electronics co-CEO TM Roh said that “no company is immune” to the pressure of the global memory shortage and subsequent skyrocketing prices, including Samsung’s smartphone business. Roh didn’t rule out raising product prices, going as far as to say that it was “inevitable.”
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How Much More Expensive Will The Galaxy S26 Series Be?
The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra has been included in several discounts in 2025. Will the Galaxy S26 Ultra get the same treatment? (Photo by Firdous Nazir/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
NurPhoto via Getty Images
ET News published a story claiming that Samsung is still weighing a price hike of between 44,000 won ($31) and 88,000 won ($62) per model. In the U.S., that could mean the Galaxy S26 series could top out at roughly $859, $1,059, and $1,359 for the base, Plus, and Galaxy S26 Ultra models, respectively.
But the real casualty could be Samsung’s promotions that knock hundreds off the phone. ET News also claimed that Samsung is considering axing its signature double-storage deal (e.g., from 256GB to 512GB) it typically launches during the pre-order period. That could be a bad omen for the future.
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra: Future Discounts at Risk?
During Black Friday, the Korean company slashed the Galaxy S25 Ultra 512GB down to $859.99. That included a straight $400 off if no phone was traded in, or enhanced trade-in prices if one was.
A sub-$900 Samsung flagship, with the second-highest memory option, is about as good as it gets. For reference, six weeks before the Galaxy S26 lands, Samsung has only discounted the Galaxy S25 Ultra 512GB down to $1,119.99.
A sub-$900 Galaxy S26 Ultra 512GB may simply not be possible for the Korean company this Black Friday, or any other time it runs a deal (which it does a lot). Agressive deals a huge part of Samsung’s marketing strategy; whether it is free software subscriptions, incessant discount codes, or giving away a free Galaxy S25 with select TV purchases, it’s not clear if the Korean company will be able to continue.
Maybe the company pivots to different types of deals that don’t eat as far into profit margins, like giving away free tablets, watches, and laptops. The problem is that Samsung’s other gadgets are similarly affected by the memory price surge.
What Is Next Dor Deal-Hunting Galaxy S26 Buyers?
If memory prices continue to stay high because demand can’t meet supply (generative AI, and the resources it is vacuuming up, isn’t going away), then I can see Samsung leaning further into free software giveaways.
We’ve already seen Galaxy phone and tablet buyers repeatedly gifted a free 12-month subscription to Perplexity Pro. In previous years, Samsung has bundled a year of Disney Plus for select Galaxy users, or subscriptions to Adobe Lightroom, SiriusXM, and Peacock Premium.
Another option is raising the cost of other Samsung devices to subsidize the Galaxy S line. A report from Maeil Business said that the company is considering raising Galaxy A-series prices to keep the Galaxy S26’s price competitive.
Update January 13th: Samsung Confirms Cancellation Of The Galaxy S26 Edge
Update January 13th 14:21 ET: The Galaxy S26 Plus will replace the Galaxy S26 Edge this year, which has been cancelled, The Elec confirms (again). The Korean publication reported that Samsung has made the decision to shelve the ultra-slim phone, which was due to land with the rest of the Galaxy S26 series next month.
This decision was made in October after seeing how poorly the Galaxy S25 Edge and iPhone 17 Air sold (and were received), giving Samsung a shorter-than-normal amount of time to create and manufacture its replacement. The Elec claims that Samsung will complete manufacturing for the Galaxy S26 Plus and base Galaxy S26 this month. The Galaxy S26 Ultra went into production earlier in December.
In terms of specifications, the Galaxy S26 Plus will feature a 6.66-inch screen, which is just slightly shorter than the 6.7-inch display of the Galaxy S25 Plus. Samsung had apparently considered using the same OLED panel developed for the cancelled Galaxy S26 Edge but opted for a similar display to the one used in the Galaxy S25 Plus.
Because of the last-minute decision to bring back the Galaxy S26 Plus, The Elec claims that some parts of the Galaxy S25 Plus are expected to be reused in the S26 Plus. The base Galaxy S26 display will also receive a small size boost, growing from the Galaxy S25’s 6.2-inch screen to 6.27 inches.
