RAM Shortage Bumps Galaxy S26 Price

RAM shortages are pricing your Galaxy S26. Samsung confirms that tight memory supply, plus higher material costs and tariffs, pushed the cost about $100 higher than the previous generation, a move executives describe as a real, apples-to-apples pass-through of the current squeeze in component pricing. The Verge notes that Won-Joon Choi, Samsung’s COO of mobile, said the memory shortage made a “significant contribution” to the higher price. In practical terms, the S26 lineup costs more this year, even though Samsung promised the same premium experience—just with more memory and storage to show for it.

The company also baked in a strong storage upgrade. The Galaxy S26 now starts with 256GB of storage, effectively doubling what many buyers saw on the prior generation. That doubling comes with the higher price tag, a tradeoff Samsung presents as a win for power users who collect photos, apps, and high-resolution video. But the headline is clear: you’re paying more, and a chunk of that extra has its roots in the RAM market, not just a marketing banner.

The numbers paint a broader picture of today’s smartphone economics. Memory shortages have become a recurring headwind for premium devices, and they don’t travel alone. Samsung cites tariffs and other material costs as contributing factors, a reminder that price tags on flagship phones are increasingly a reflection of a tangled global supply chain as much as a spec sheet. In industry circles, the term “RAMageddon” has become part of the vernacular—consumers feel it at checkout because the memory component isn’t just a line item, it’s a gatekeeper for the latest features and capacity.

From a consumer perspective, the move is a reminder of the price/value calculus that often accompanies new generations. The S26’s extra RAM and base 256GB storage will matter to certain buyers—gamers, heavy app users, and shutterbugs who never want to delete files. For these users, the $100 premium may feel justified if the real-world benefits—quicker app launches, smoother multitasking, and more breathing room for media—translate into tangible daily gains. For lighter users or those who already have ample cloud storage, the decision becomes a cost-versus-benefit calculation, not a slam-dunk upgrade.

Two to four practitioner insights stand out here. First, the RAM supply chain remains a primary price lever for premium phones; if memory availability tightens further, price floors could rise or promotions could tighten, depending on Samsung’s sourcing success. Second, the storage bump to 256GB is strategically valuable: it creates a perceptible upgrade path that can partially justify the higher price to buyers who carry large apps and libraries locally. Third, tariffs and other landed costs are now a regular feature of the bottom line, so consumers should not expect prices to swing back quickly in the near term. Fourth, if you’re chasing value, watch for timing around promotions, trade-ins, or carrier subsidies—these are the usual channels that can soften the upfront hit, even when the sticker remains elevated.

Bottom line: this isn’t a gimmick or a price spike without cause. It’s a straight-through transmission of RAM shortages, material costs, and tariffs into the Galaxy S26’s price. If you truly need the extra RAM headroom and the 256GB base storage, the premium may be worth it. If not, patience and deal-hunting are your friend—waiting for promos or considering last year’s model could deliver better value this cycle.

Sources

Samsung exec confirms you can blame RAM — and other materials — for the Galaxy S26’s higher price tag