On October 1 Samsung raised the Galaxy S26, S26+ and S26 Ultra by $100 in its US store (the 1 TB Ultra by $200). Short advice: don’t pay the new list price. Six months after launch the S26 line has been sold at steep discounts, and the 512 GB Ultra hit ~$1,180 during Big Deal Days. US prices, in dollars, as reported by the press; the Prime sale (Oct 6-7) has probably ended, so check the price on screen before you pay.
What exactly changed
| Model (256 GB) | Before | Now |
|---|---|---|
| Galaxy S26 | $899.99 | $999.99 |
| Galaxy S26+ | $1,099.99 | $1,199.99 |
| Galaxy S26 Ultra | $1,299.99 | $1,399.99 |
The 512 GB Ultra moves to $1,599.99 and the 1 TB to $1,999.99. The Galaxy S26 FE ($699.99) and the foldables stay the same. Samsung gave no official reason; the press points to rising memory costs. For now it shows up only in Samsung’s US store, so other sellers may lag.
Galaxy S26: US list price after the hike (256 GB; FE, 128 GB)
The FE and the Ultra are $700 apart. That gap decides the purchase: the base S26 is now just $300 above the FE and $400 below the Ultra.
Quick pick
| If you are… | Look at |
|---|---|
| Want the most Samsung has | S26 Ultra 512 GB, only on sale |
| Want a flagship under list price | Pixel 11 Pro / Pro XL on sale |
| Want Samsung under $700 | Galaxy S26 FE |
| Already own an S24 or S25 | Don’t switch: the hike adds nothing |
Galaxy S26 Ultra: wait until it drops below list
Amazon had it at $1,179.99 (512 GB) during Big Deal Days, about $420 below Samsung’s new price ($1,599.99), per Android Authority. Other outlets reported even lower prices at other dates, so the real range is wide. It’s the most complete phone for zoom and night photos; the downside is plain: it is still very expensive and, without a discount, the hike puts it out of reach for most.
🛒 See Galaxy S26 Ultra on AmazonPixel 11 Pro and Pro XL: the discounted alternative
During Big Deal Days the Pixel 11 Pro fell to ~$849 (list $1,099) and the Pro XL to ~$999 (list $1,299), per the press. Google Store listed $200 and $250 off through October 11, plus up to $650 for a trade-in through October 29 (the maximum depends on your device). If you care about camera and clean software, it’s the S26 Ultra’s direct rival. Downside: the savings depend on deals with an expiry date.
🛒 See Pixel 11 Pro XL on AmazonGalaxy S26 FE: the only one that didn’t go up
$699.99 for 128 GB. It brings 7 years of updates and 45 W charging, but also an Exynos 2500 chip (not the S-series one) and costs $50 more than the S25 FE. It’s the sensible Samsung if the base S26 is already over budget.
🛒 See Galaxy S26 FE on AmazonHow not to overpay
- Compare against last month’s price, not list: list just went up, and any “discount” is measured against it.
- Black Friday is November 27. If your current phone works, waiting costs nothing; more in when phone prices drop.
- Use the comparison tool before choosing between S26, Pixel and FE, and check the Top 10 Android phones.
FAQ
Does the hike affect other countries? Verified sources confirm it in the US; one outlet reports adjustments elsewhere, but we couldn’t confirm it. Check your local price.
Should I buy now before prices rise again? Only if you find a real discount. With the new list price, an Amazon markdown is the advantage.
Bottom line: the S26 costs $100 more at list, but deals set the real price. 512 GB Ultra near $1,180, Pixel 11 Pro/Pro XL on sale, or the S26 FE at $699.99, depending on how much you want to spend.
Sources: 9to5Google — Samsung raises S26 prices, Android Authority — S26 price increase, Android Authority — S26 Ultra Prime deal, PhoneArena — official S26 US prices, Android Authority — Pixel 11 Pro XL at $999, Droid Life — Pixel 11 Pro XL, $300 off.
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