Feb. 25 at 6:46 PM
Samsung Electronics unveiled its Galaxy S26 smartphone lineup as the industry grapples with a global memory chip shortage driven by rapid AI infrastructure expansion.
Prices rose by
$100 for the S26 and S26+, now starting at
$899 and
$1,099, respectively, while the S26 Ultra remains unchanged at
$1,299. The launch comes as average smartphone selling prices are expected to climb 6.9% in 2026, according to Counterpoint Research.
The S26 series — Samsung’s third generation of “AI phones” — features faster processors, expanded AI tools for photo editing and document scanning, and a new privacy display on the Ultra model that limits side-angle visibility.
Analysts warn the memory crunch is not short term, with shortages potentially lasting into 2027 or 2028 as AI data center demand diverts supply from consumer electronics. Memory prices in smartphone segments have reportedly doubled in recent quarters.
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