Samsung Electronics may raise the base storage capacity in its next flagship Galaxy S26 series. The base Galaxy S model has started at 128GB, but the S26 is expected to have 256GB as the minimum. That is also fuelling concern about a price increase for the base model. IT outlet PhoneArena reported the details on Jan. 30 local time.

According to a Finnish online retailer, Samsung is expected to drop the 128GB option from the base Galaxy S26 and adopt 256GB as the standard storage. That is similar to Apple's strategy of removing 128GB from the base iPhone 17 last year and switching to 256GB as the default.

A price increase is also being raised alongside the storage bump. According to well-known IT tipster Roland Quandt (롤랜드 콴트), the Galaxy S26 256GB model to be sold in Sweden is expected to cost about $1,358 (about 1.98 million won). That is about $113 (about 160,000 won) higher than the previous Galaxy S25 256GB model.

A simple conversion suggests the base Galaxy S26 model is likely to be priced at about $900 to $960 (about 1.31 million to 1.39 million won). Sweden is a country where smartphone prices are relatively high due to factors such as value-added tax, but even taking that into account, the analysis says it would be difficult for the Galaxy S26 price to fall below $900.

One notable point is that the Galaxy S26 Ultra model could instead see a slight price cut. Quandt said the S26 Ultra 256GB and 512GB models are expected to cost about $1,200 (about 1.75 million won) and $1,400 (about 2.04 million won), respectively. That would be about $113 and $56 (about 80,000 won) lower than the previous model, respectively.

The S26 Plus model, by contrast, is expected to be mixed. The 256GB model is expected to keep its current price, but the 512GB model is expected to rise by about $113. Given the recent sluggish sales of the Plus model, it is unclear whether such a pricing policy can draw a consumer response.

Behind the pricing shifts is a rise in memory prices. As artificial intelligence functions spread, demand for smartphone RAM and storage surged, but supply has not kept pace, pushing up global memory prices. For manufacturers, costs have risen and they have little choice but to reflect the increase in product prices.

The industry is also raising the possibility that Samsung Electronics may not offer free storage upgrades for pre-order customers with this Galaxy S26 launch. A bigger storage option may be welcomed, but attention is focusing on pricing policy as it could increase the burden on consumers.