Call it what you want: RAMageddon, chipflation, the AI tax. Amid a global memory shortage that’s compelling companies to hike prices on phones, PCs, laptops and gaming consoles, our devices keep getting more expensive.
On Thursday, Samsung quietly raised prices on the Galaxy S26, S26 Plus and S26 Ultra by $100, without issuing an official company statement. The Galaxy S26 FE didn’t go up in price, and Samsung’s newest foldables — Galaxy Z Fold 8, Z Fold 8 Ultra and Z Flip 8 — were also spared the carnage.
For the larger 512GB models, the Galaxy S26 now lists at $1,200, the S26 Plus at $1,400, and the S26 Ultra at $1,600. The S26 Ultra with 1TB storage went up $200 and is now $2,000. All the company’s smartphone prices are listed here.
A Samsung representative did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The RAM shortage is a result of the massive buildout of AI data center infrastructure, which requires huge amounts of memory, especially high-bandwidth memory, or HBM. Apple and Google also raised prices by about $100 on their most recent phones.
Read more: Why RAMageddon Might Force Apps and Operating Systems’ Performance to Suck Less
Is there relief in sight?
In its Q2 earnings call in July, Samsung said it expects the memory shortage to be worse next year and persist through 2028.
At Amazon, the S26 Ultra is still available at lower prices. It’s not yet known whether any of the Galaxy S26 phones will be available during October Prime Day, Oct. 6 and 7, but check out CNET’s constantly updated coverage of all the deals.
Cellphone carriers such as Verizon, T-Mobile and AT&T could mitigate some sticker shock with installment plans, trade-in credits and refurbished devices. But that won’t reverse higher prices nor solve the memory shortage problem, GlobalData senior analyst Amanda Mitchell said in a new analysis.
“Lasting relief depends on additional production capacity, but manufacturers’ expansion plans will take years to reach the market, and much of the new investment is intended to serve AI demand rather than consumer devices,” Mitchell said. “With meaningful new capacity years away, price pressure is likely to persist.”
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