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Samsung’s Galaxy S26 prices in the U.S. were reported to rise on October 1, 2026: most configurations went up by $100, while the 1TB Galaxy S26 Ultra increased by $200. The new reported prices range from $999 for the 256GB Galaxy S26 to about $2,000 for the 1TB Ultra. Apple’s iPhone 18 Pro starts at $1,199, but its starting price is not directly comparable to every Galaxy configuration.
Reported U.S. Galaxy S26 prices after the October increase
Tom’s Guide reported the October 1 increases and listed prices by storage tier. The figures below are U.S. list prices reported by that outlet, not a live Samsung checkout quote. The S26 FE’s starting price was reported as unchanged; that does not establish prices for every FE configuration or current promotion.
| Phone and storage | February 2026 launch price | Price reported October 1, 2026 | Reported change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Galaxy S26, 256GB | $899, per Associated Press | $999, per Tom’s Guide | +$100 |
| Galaxy S26, 512GB | not stated in the cited launch-price report | $1,199, per Tom’s Guide | not stated |
| Galaxy S26 Plus, 256GB | $1,099, per Associated Press | $1,199, per Tom’s Guide | +$100 |
| Galaxy S26 Plus, 512GB | not stated in the cited launch-price report | $1,399, per Tom’s Guide | not stated |
| Galaxy S26 Ultra, 256GB | $1,299, per Associated Press | $1,399, per Tom’s Guide | +$100 |
| Galaxy S26 Ultra, 512GB | not stated in the cited launch-price report | $1,599, per Tom’s Guide | not stated |
| Galaxy S26 Ultra, 1TB | not stated in the cited launch-price report | $1,999 per Tom’s Guide; $1,999.99 per Phandroid | +$200, per both outlets |
The two October reports differ by 99 cents on the 1TB Ultra. Neither is an official Samsung U.S. price announcement, so check Samsung’s current listing before treating either amount as the checkout price. AP’s February launch figures show that the standard S26 and S26 Plus had already launched $100 above their prior-year counterparts; the Ultra’s launch price was unchanged from the preceding year.
How the reported Samsung increase compares with Apple
Apple’s September 2026 announcement lists U.S. starting prices of $1,199 for iPhone 18 Pro and $1,299 for iPhone 18 Pro Max. That puts the iPhone 18 Pro’s starting price $200 above the reported $999 starting price of the 256GB Galaxy S26, while the iPhone 18 Pro Max starts $100 below the reported $1,399 256GB Galaxy S26 Ultra. These are starting-price comparisons, not like-for-like storage or feature comparisons.
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Apple also lists trade-in credits and carrier promotions for eligible buyers. Those offers can reduce what a qualifying customer pays, but they do not change the advertised starting price and the maximum credit is not available to everyone. Compare the same storage capacity and account for eligibility before deciding which phone costs less.
What has been cited as driving phone-price increases
Samsung executives discussed the earlier launch-era increases for the S26 and S26 Plus, not the October U.S. adjustment. In a March 2026 interview with Tom’s Guide, Samsung America mobile product management senior vice president Drew Blackard said, “We’ve been able to maintain prices for a pretty long time,” and pointed to custom processors, larger batteries, improved screen and camera technology, and more AI. Samsung mobile business COO Won-Joon Choi cited memory shortages as making a “significant contribution”; tariffs and material costs were also reported as factors.
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- MAKE IT. EDIT IT. SHARE IT: Turn everyday moments into something personal with creative tools built right into your mobile whether it’s a special contact photo, custom wallpaper, an invitation or more³
- FAST. POWERFUL. AI-READY: Power through your day with AI-accelerated performance from our fastest, smoothest and most powerful Galaxy processor yet, built to keep up with everything you do
- IMMENSELY IMMERSIVE: No matter where you are or what you’re watching, your favorite videos and more come to life with the vibrant display on Galaxy S26
- FIT EVERYONE IN THE SHOT: Group selfies are easier on your Samsung phone with a wider front camera⁴ that captures more of the scene, so no one gets left out of the moment
Memory supply pressure has also been described as a broader challenge for phone makers, with Phandroid attributing demand partly to AI data centers. But Samsung had not publicly explained the October U.S. adjustment at the time of Phandroid’s report. It is therefore not established that any one factor—or AI data-center demand specifically—caused this particular price change. Phandroid also repeats figures attributed to IDC, but the underlying IDC publication is not verified here, so those figures are not included.
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Sources
- Tom’s Guide: Galaxy S26 U.S. price increase report, updated October 1, 2026
- Phandroid: Samsung price increase report, October 1, 2026
- Associated Press: Galaxy S26 launch coverage, February 25, 2026
- Apple Newsroom: iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max announcement, September 2026
- Tom’s Guide: Samsung executive comments on the S26 and S26 Plus launch increase, March 2, 2026
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
