Multiple conflicting price leaks for Samsung's upcoming Galaxy S26 series create uncertainty, with French sources suggesting modest increases while other rumors claim no changes or massive hikes up to €500.
Another day, another Galaxy S26 family pricing leak. This one comes from France, so if accurate, do note that these prices may only apply to that one specific market - there are usually slight variations even across the Eurozone countries due to differing levels of VAT in each one.
According to this leak, the base 256GB S26 will be €40 more expensive than its predecessor, with the 512GB model going for a whopping €120 more. The 256GB S26+ will apparently cost €100 more than the S25+, and the 512GB version €90 more. The Galaxy S26 Ultra will start at the same price as the S25 Ultra, with 256GB of storage, but the 512GB option is €80 more expensive, and the 1TB variation is €140 more.
Here are all the prices in a nifty table:
| Storage | S26 | S26+ | S26 Ultra | S25 | S25+ | S25 Ultra |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 256 GB | €999 | €1,269 | €1,469 | €959 | €1,169 | €1,469 |
| 512 GB | €1,199 | €1,469 | €1,669 | €1,079 | €1,289 | €1,589 |
| 1 TB | Not available | Not available | €1,969 | Not available | Not available | €1,829 |
The most recent S26 pricing leak before this one claimed there would be absolutely no changes compared to the S25 family whatsoever. But before that, there was another leak that claimed we might see increases of up to €500. So this leak is in between those two more extreme ones, and to tell you the truth, we don't really know what to expect.
The good thing is that Samsung is rumored to be unveiling the S26 trio on February 25, which is in just three weeks. So we'll find out which of these leaks (if any) was accurate soon enough.
Source: Galaxy Club (in French)
Context: Why Galaxy S26 Pricing Matters
The Galaxy S series represents Samsung's flagship smartphone lineup, typically accounting for a significant portion of the company's premium device sales. Price positioning is crucial for several reasons:
Market Competition: Samsung faces intense competition from Apple's iPhone 16 series, Google's Pixel 9 lineup, and various Chinese manufacturers like Xiaomi and OnePlus in the premium segment.
Component Costs: The pricing strategy reflects Samsung's assessment of component costs, particularly for the Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 processor expected in the S26 series, which may be more expensive than previous generations.
Regional Variations: As noted in the leak, European pricing includes VAT, which varies by country. A €999 price in France (20% VAT) would translate differently in Germany (19% VAT) or Italy (22% VAT).
What We Know About Galaxy S26 So Far
Beyond the conflicting price leaks, several other details have emerged about Samsung's upcoming flagship:
Launch Timeline: February 25, 2026 appears to be the target unveiling date, maintaining Samsung's traditional February/March flagship launch window.
Processor Strategy: The standard Galaxy S26 and S26+ are expected to use Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 globally, while the Ultra variant may feature Samsung's in-house Exynos 2600 in some markets, though this remains unconfirmed.
Design Continuity: Based on leaked renders and CAD drawings, the S26 series appears to maintain the design language established with the S24 series, with refinements rather than radical changes.
Camera Expectations: The Ultra model is rumored to retain its 200MP primary sensor while potentially improving zoom capabilities and computational photography features.
The Challenge of Price Leak Accuracy
The conflicting nature of these leaks highlights a broader issue in smartphone journalism. Price leaks can originate from:
- Retail partner documents and training materials
- Supply chain sources with partial information
- Market-specific pricing strategies that don't reflect global pricing
- Intentional misinformation to gauge market reaction
Given that we've seen leaks claiming no price changes, moderate increases (€40-€140), and massive hikes (€500), the actual pricing could fall anywhere in this range. The most conservative approach suggests Samsung will likely maintain pricing similar to the S25 series, with possible adjustments based on component costs and competitive positioning.
What to Expect Next
With the February 25 launch date approaching, we can anticipate:
Official Pricing: Samsung typically announces European pricing in euros, which serves as a reference point for other markets.
Regional Variations: US pricing usually converts directly from euros (minus VAT), while Asian markets may see different pricing strategies based on local competition.
Carrier Partnerships: US carrier pricing will likely include installment plans and trade-in offers that affect the effective price consumers pay.
Pre-order Bonuses: Samsung often includes promotional offers like free storage upgrades or accessories for early pre-orders.
Until the official announcement, treat all pricing leaks as speculative, though this French leak provides a plausible middle ground between the no-change and massive-increase scenarios. The consistency of the Ultra model maintaining its base price while increasing higher storage tiers aligns with Samsung's historical pricing strategy of using entry-level pricing as a psychological anchor while maximizing revenue from premium storage configurations.
The next three weeks should provide clarity as Samsung prepares for what appears to be a significant product launch in its flagship smartphone lineup.
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