The 1 TB Galaxy S26 Ultra now costs €2,150 in the European market, €230 more than on launch day. Samsung has raised prices across the entire Galaxy S26 family, with increases starting at €100 and also hitting the United States, the United Kingdom, India and Canada. What stands out is not only the amount but the timing: the company is raising prices half a year after putting the phones on sale, when the opposite is usually the case.
The Galaxy S26 price increase in Europe, model by model
In the European market, the 256 GB Galaxy S26 goes from €1,000 to €1,100, and its 512 GB version from €1,200 to €1,300. The Galaxy S26+ rises by €100 in each capacity, up to €1,350 and €1,550. The steepest jump belongs to the Ultra: its 1 TB model goes up by €230, from €1,920 to €2,150.
| Model | Storage | Launch price | Current price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Galaxy S26 | 256 GB | €1,000 | €1,100 |
| Galaxy S26 | 512 GB | €1,200 | €1,300 |
| Galaxy S26+ | 256 GB | €1,250 | €1,350 |
| Galaxy S26+ | 512 GB | €1,450 | €1,550 |
| Galaxy S26 Ultra | 256 GB | €1,450 | €1,550 |
| Galaxy S26 Ultra | 512 GB | €1,650 | €1,750 |
| Galaxy S26 Ultra | 1 TB | €1,920 | €2,150 |
The pattern repeats at the same scale in the other regions reviewed. In the United States, the 256 GB S26 goes from $900 to $1,000, the S26+ from $1,100 to $1,200 and the Ultra from $1,300 to $1,400; its 1 TB variant climbs to $2,000. In the United Kingdom, India and Canada the ranges grow by the same proportion. The exception is the Galaxy S26 FE, which for now keeps its prices, just as it did at launch.
A price rise against the tide
What is normal in the phone market is for a flagship’s price to ease a few months after it reaches stores, once the launch shine fades and the first promotions appear. Samsung has done the opposite and has raised the price of a generation that had already launched more expensive than the previous one: the 256 GB S26 Ultra cost €1,450 against €1,470 for the equivalent S25 Ultra, but the 1 TB model went from €1,830 to €1,920.
The Korean company is not alone in this move. Apple and Google have also applied price increases to their lineups in recent months, so the rise reflects an industry trend rather than an isolated decision. And everything points to the climb not stopping: rumors about the Galaxy S27 series point to another price increase next year.
What changes for your wallet
At these prices, the recommendation is clear: now is not the best time to buy a Galaxy S26. Anyone who had the 1 TB Ultra in mind will have to pay €230 more than a few weeks ago for the same product, and anyone after the base model will no longer find the €1,000 psychological barrier, but €100 above it.
The alternatives come down to three routes. The first is to wait for a real discount, which with this precedent may take a while. The second is to look at the Galaxy S26 FE, whose prices have not been touched and which remains the most sensible option in the family if the budget rules. The third is to review previous generations: the S25 is still available at lower prices with plenty of update support ahead, something worth keeping in mind before paying the novelty premium. For anyone already set on the S26, the sensible move is to compare across retailers and not assume the official price is the only one out there.
