Galaxy S26 Upgrade Cuts: Samsung Tried to Avoid a Price Hike… and Still Lost

(Focus keyphrase check: Galaxy S26 price hike)

Intermediate | February 14, 2026

✨ Read the article aloud on your own or repeat each paragraph after your tutor.

Galaxy S26 price hike: Better Phone or Better Price?

According to leaks and reporting, Samsung had a simple goal for the Galaxy S26 lineup: avoid a price hike. In other words, the company wanted to dodge a Galaxy S26 price hike story before it even started. The problem? Even after Samsung allegedly cut several planned upgrades, leaks still suggest many buyers may face higher prices anyway. That’s the kind of decision that makes product teams reach for coffee… and customers reach for the “skip this year” button. (9to5Google, Feb 5, 2026)

What Samsung Reportedly Wanted to Do (Before It Changed Plans)

9to5Google says early leaks suggested Samsung had a bigger refresh in mind, including changes like:

Replacing the “Plus” model with a thinner “Edge”
Rebranding the base Galaxy S26 as “Pro”
Bigger batteries and faster charging
Camera upgrades for the “Galaxy S26 Pro”
Built-in Qi2 magnets (MagSafe-style alignment)

But later reporting claims Samsung pivoted hard into cost-cutting—reportedly after Apple launched the iPhone 17 lineup without a price increase. (9to5Google, Feb 5, 2026)

The “Scrapped Upgrades” Story Gets Specific

A November report (cited by 9to5Google) adds some detail to the behind-the-scenes shift. It says Samsung originally planned a slimmer base model with a 6.9mm chassis and a 4,900mAh battery, but then reportedly reverted to a thicker 7.2mm chassis and a 4,300mAh battery as it redesigned the phone to keep costs down. (9to5Google, Nov 14, 2025)

In business terms: Samsung may have sacrificed “wow factor” to protect margins and pricing.

What Upgrades Might Still Happen

Even with cuts, 9to5Google says there are still a few meaningful changes floating around in the leak cycle, including:

Base storage moving to 256GB
Satellite texting/SOS support
A “Privacy Display” feature (mentioned for the Ultra)
Faster wireless charging
A thinner Galaxy S26 Ultra

That’s not nothing—but it’s also not the big leap many fans were hoping for. (9to5Google, Feb 5, 2026)

The Twist: Prices May Rise Anyway

Here’s the uncomfortable part: the price rumors don’t look friendly.

9to5Google reported an earlier January rumor that the base Galaxy S26 could start around €1,049 in Sweden, while the S26 Ultra could be around €1,399—with the base model reflecting a €100 jump versus the comparable 256GB tier. (9to5Google, Feb 5, 2026)
Another 9to5Google report says Swedish dealer data suggested the base model could rise by about €100, while the Ultra might actually be cheaper than the previous Ultra (depending on storage tiers and promotions). It also notes the base model could be 11,990 SEK and that Samsung may be dropping lower storage options to raise the “starting point.” (9to5Google, Jan 29, 2026)

That’s a weird combo: fewer headline upgrades, but a potentially higher bill. If these reports hold up, the Galaxy S26 price hike could become the headline—even more than the upgrades.

Why This Matters (Even If You’re Not Buying a Phone)

This story is really about product strategy. When costs rise (parts, memory, manufacturing), a company has three main choices:

Raise prices
Cut features
Find efficiencies (and hope customers don’t notice)

Samsung may have tried option #2—cut upgrades—to avoid option #1. But if the leaks are right, buyers might still get option #1 anyway. That’s a tough sell, and it puts Samsung’s marketing team in a corner: they’ll need a strong “value” message to keep customers upgrading.

Vocabulary

pivot (verb) – to change strategy or direction.
Example: “Samsung pivoted toward cost-cutting to control prices.”
lineup (noun) – a group of products offered together.
Example: “The Galaxy S26 lineup may look similar to last year’s phones.”
cost-cutting (noun) – actions to reduce expenses.
Example: “Cost-cutting can protect profits, but it can also reduce upgrades.”
rumor mill (noun) – ongoing flow of unofficial news and leaks.
Example: “The rumor mill suggests prices may rise anyway.”
tier (noun) – a level or version in a pricing system.
Example: “The 512GB tier may cost more than expected.”
margin (noun) – the difference between cost and selling price (profit space).
Example: “Companies protect margins when parts get expensive.”
scrap (verb) – to cancel or throw away a plan.
Example: “Samsung reportedly scrapped several planned upgrades.”
headline upgrade (noun) – a big feature that gets attention.
Example: “A bigger battery would have been a headline upgrade.”
value message (noun) – how a company explains why a product is worth the price.
Example: “Samsung will need a strong value message if prices go up.”
pricing pressure (noun) – forces pushing prices higher.
Example: “Pricing pressure is hitting the smartphone market.”

Discussion Questions (About the Article)

What upgrades did Samsung reportedly plan at first, and which ones may have been cut?
Why might Apple’s iPhone pricing affect Samsung’s decisions?
Which remaining upgrades (256GB base storage, satellite SOS, etc.) feel most important to you?
Why would Samsung drop lower storage options when customers want cheaper phones?
If prices rise anyway, how should Samsung explain that to customers?

Discussion Questions (About the Topic)

In your industry, how do companies handle rising costs—raise prices, cut features, or something else?
Which matters more to you: better specs or a stable price? Why?
Do you think customers notice “small” changes like 6.9mm vs 7.2mm thickness? Why/why not?
What’s a product you stopped buying because the price went up but quality didn’t?
If you were Samsung’s product manager, what would you prioritize for the S27?

Related Idiom

“You can’t have your cake and eat it too.” – you can’t get two incompatible benefits at the same time.

Example: “Samsung tried to keep prices down and deliver big upgrades, but you can’t have your cake and eat it too.”

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This article was inspired by: 9to5Google (Feb 5, 2026), 9to5Google (Jan 29, 2026), and 9to5Google (Nov 14, 2025).