SEOUL, Feb 6, 2026, 18:36 (KST)
- Leaks point to higher European prices for Galaxy S26 and S26+, while the base S26 Ultra price may hold steady
- 9to5Google says Samsung scaled back planned hardware upgrades, including bigger batteries and Qi2 magnets
- A TechRadar poll found 70% of respondents were not excited about the Galaxy S26 lineup
Samsung Electronics’ next Galaxy S26 phones could cost more in parts of Europe, even after the company scaled back planned upgrades to avoid a hike, according to leaks and media reports. 9to5Google said Samsung’s cutbacks followed Apple’s iPhone 17 launch without a price rise, and that only a handful of rumoured changes — including higher base storage, satellite texting and a thinner Galaxy S26 Ultra — now stand out. (9to5Google)
That matters now because Samsung is nearing its annual flagship marketing push, when early adopters decide whether to pay full price or wait for deals. A higher starting price without obvious hardware gains could push more buyers to last year’s Galaxy S25, or to rivals’ top-end phones.
Component costs are one pressure point. Qualcomm CEO Cristiano Amon told Reuters a global memory shortage is forcing phone makers to cut inventories: “I’m very happy with the business – I just wish we had more memory,” and TECHnalysis Research chief analyst Bob O’Donnell said the crunch could hit the sector for “the next several quarters.” (Reuters)
Leaked euro prices compiled by Tech Advisor suggest Samsung would lift the entry Galaxy S26 to 999 euros for 256GB, up from 959 euros for the comparable Galaxy S25, and charge 1,199 euros for a 512GB version. The report listed the Galaxy S26+ at 1,269 euros for 256GB and 1,469 euros for 512GB, while the base 256GB Galaxy S26 Ultra would stay at 1,469 euros but rise to 1,669 euros for 512GB and 1,969 euros for 1TB. (Tech Advisor)
French outlet Frandroid, citing leaker Billbil-kun posting on Dealabs, published a similar France price grid and said the 256GB tier would become the new starting point for the S26 and S26+, pointing to the disappearance of a 128GB option. It also said a Galaxy Unpacked launch event is expected on Feb. 25. (Frandroid)
Qi2 — pronounced “chee two” — is a version of the Qi wireless charging standard that adds a “Magnetic Power Profile” designed to align phones and chargers using magnets for better efficiency, the Wireless Power Consortium said. Whether Samsung will build those magnets into the S26 phones, or keep the magnetic trick mainly in cases and accessories, remains a live point of dispute in the leak cycle. (Businesswire)
Forbes, citing leaks, said the Galaxy S26 Ultra could get what it called a “sideways upgrade” to Qi2 wireless charging, suggesting improvements may come more in charging behaviour than headline specs. Samsung has not confirmed Galaxy S26 specifications or pricing. (Forbes)
Signs of buyer fatigue are already showing up. A TechRadar poll published on Friday found 70% of respondents said they were not excited about the Galaxy S26 family, with the author pointing to another year of iterative changes and more emphasis on software and “Galaxy AI”, Samsung’s suite of AI features. (TechRadar)
Android Police argued that the steady stream of leaks could blunt the impact of Samsung’s eventual unveiling, especially if it comes in late February. Samsung has not announced an event date. (Androidpolice)
But leaks often miss — and price lists can be placeholders, bundle-heavy launch tactics, or region-specific taxes rather than final tags. If Samsung lands bigger hardware upgrades at launch, or leans harder on trade-ins, the picture could change fast.
For now, the emerging picture from the tech press is awkward for Samsung: higher European price talk and modest, uneven reasons to pay more. With Apple entrenched at the high end, Samsung may need more than a thinner Ultra and faster charging to spur upgrades.
