iTechGuides is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more
Yes. In the US, Samsung’s current listed price for the 256GB Galaxy S26 Ultra is $1,399.99, compared with Apple’s announced $1,299 starting price for the 256GB iPhone 18 Pro Max—a difference of $100.99 before tax or discounts. A Seoul Economic Daily report attributes Samsung’s price increases to rising memory costs amid AI-driven demand, but the collected evidence does not include a direct Samsung confirmation of that explanation.
How the US base prices compare
The comparison is between 256GB models in the United States, not every storage tier or every country. Samsung’s US store lists the unlocked Galaxy S26 Ultra at $1,399.99 for 256GB. Apple announced the iPhone 18 Pro Max at $1,299 for 256GB on September 9, 2026.
| Phone and configuration | Price and source | What the figure represents |
|---|---|---|
| Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra, 256GB | $1,399.99 — Samsung US store listing, checked October 2, 2026 | Current listed US price; Samsung’s live price may change. |
| Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max, 256GB | $1,299 — Apple announcement, September 9, 2026 | Announced US starting price. |
On those listed figures, the S26 Ultra costs $100.99 more. This is a list-price comparison, not a claim about what a particular buyer will pay after trade-in, carrier credits, or other promotions.
Why Samsung’s listed price is higher than its launch price
Samsung announced a US starting price of $1,299.99 for the Galaxy S26 Ultra in February 2026. Its current 256GB US store listing is $1,399.99. That is a $100 increase between the announced launch starting price and the current listed price. The two Samsung sources show a one-cent difference in their displayed starting amounts, so those figures should be treated as the amounts each source actually published rather than silently harmonized.
#1 Best Overall
- PRIVACY DISPLAY: Automatically hide your screen from those beside you. The built-in privacy display can be preset¹ to turn on when receiving notifications, typing passwords, or using specific apps
- TYPE IT IN. TRANSFORM IT FAST: Enhance any shot in seconds on your smartphone by using Photo Assist² with Galaxy AI.³ Add objects, restore details, or apply new styles by simply typing or tapping
- NIGHTS, CAPTURED CLEARLY: From gigs to city lights, record and capture moments after dark with clarity using Nightography so your photos and videos stay crisp and clear on your Samsung Galaxy
- MAKE IT. EDIT IT. SHARE IT: Turn everyday moments into something personal with creative tools built right into your mobile phone, whether it’s a special contact photo, custom wallpaper, an invitation or more⁴
- HELP THAT KEEPS UP: Stay in the moment while Now Nudge with Galaxy AI helps you respond faster and stay organized with smart suggestions⁵ that appear exactly when you need them on your phone
What the chip-shortage explanation means
Seoul Economic Daily reported on October 1, 2026, that Samsung raised prices in South Korea and the US amid a surge in memory costs, and described the shortage as driven by AI demand. That is a reported explanation, not a direct Samsung statement in the available evidence. The handset prices can be checked against Samsung’s and Apple’s own published figures; the causal link should remain attributed to the newspaper’s reporting.
The same report relayed two indicators of the pressure on memory costs, attributing them to DRAMeXchange and Counterpoint Research:
Rank #2
- PRIVACY DISPLAY: Automatically hide your screen from those beside you. The built-in privacy display can be preset¹ to turn on when receiving notifications, typing passwords, or using specific apps
- TYPE IT IN. TRANSFORM IT FAST: Enhance any shot in seconds on your smartphone by using Photo Assist² with Galaxy AI.³ Add objects, restore details, or apply new styles by simply typing or tapping
- NIGHTS, CAPTURED CLEARLY: From gigs to city lights, record and capture moments after dark with clarity using Nightography so your photos and videos stay crisp and clear on your Samsung Galaxy
- MAKE IT. EDIT IT. SHARE IT: Turn everyday moments into something personal with creative tools built right into your mobile phone, whether it’s a special contact photo, custom wallpaper, an invitation or more⁴
- HELP THAT KEEPS UP: Stay in the moment while Now Nudge with Galaxy AI helps you respond faster and stay organized with smart suggestions⁵ that appear exactly when you need them on your phone
- Average DRAM prices were reported at $26 at the end of September 2026, compared with $13 in March 2026, citing DRAMeXchange.
- Memory was reported to account for 43% of premium smartphone production costs, up from 27% in March 2026, citing Counterpoint Research.
These figures are reported by Seoul Economic Daily as findings from those organizations; they were not independently verified against the underlying releases here. They offer context for the reported cost pressure, but do not by themselves establish Samsung’s internal pricing rationale.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →What this comparison does—and does not—tell you
Storage matters when comparing phone prices. Samsung lists the S26 Ultra in 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB configurations; Apple announced the iPhone 18 Pro Max in 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, and 2TB configurations. The evidence cited here does not establish current Apple prices for every capacity, so the $100.99 difference applies only to the 256GB figures above.
Rank #3
- PRIVACY DISPLAY: Automatically hide your screen from those beside you. The built-in privacy display can be preset¹ to turn on when receiving notifications, typing passwords, or using specific apps
- TYPE IT IN. TRANSFORM IT FAST: Enhance any shot in seconds on your smartphone by using Photo Assist² with Galaxy AI.³ Add objects, restore details, or apply new styles by simply typing or tapping
- NIGHTS, CAPTURED CLEARLY: From gigs to city lights, record and capture moments after dark with clarity using Nightography so your photos and videos stay crisp and clear on your Samsung Galaxy
- MAKE IT. EDIT IT. SHARE IT: Turn everyday moments into something personal with creative tools built right into your mobile phone, whether it’s a special contact photo, custom wallpaper, an invitation or more⁴
- HELP THAT KEEPS UP: Stay in the moment while Now Nudge with Galaxy AI helps you respond faster and stay organized with smart suggestions⁵ that appear exactly when you need them on your phone
The comparison is also specific to US prices. The October report discusses South Korean changes too, but the US dollar difference should not be carried over to another market, where local prices, taxes, and offers differ. Apple’s announcement describes trade-in and carrier credits, but eligibility and offer values vary; check current terms before judging the effective price for your situation.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- 6.8" Dynamic AMOLED 2X QHD+ display with 1–120 Hz adaptive refresh rate, up to ~1750 nits brightness, HDR10+ support, and ultra-smooth responsiveness for gaming and scrolling.
Rank #4
- PRIVACY DISPLAY: Automatically hide your screen from those beside you. The built-in privacy display can be preset¹ to turn on when receiving notifications, typing passwords, or using specific apps
- TYPE IT IN. TRANSFORM IT FAST: Enhance any shot in seconds on your smartphone by using Photo Assist² with Galaxy AI.³ Add objects, restore details, or apply new styles by simply typing or tapping
- NIGHTS, CAPTURED CLEARLY: From gigs to city lights, record and capture moments after dark with clarity using Nightography so your photos and videos stay crisp and clear on your Samsung Galaxy
- MAKE IT. EDIT IT. SHARE IT: Turn everyday moments into something personal with creative tools built right into your mobile phone, whether it’s a special contact photo, custom wallpaper, an invitation or more⁴
- HELP THAT KEEPS UP: Stay in the moment while Now Nudge with Galaxy AI helps you respond faster and stay organized with smart suggestions⁵ that appear exactly when you need them on your phone
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.
