Galaxy S27 Prices May Jump Again Amid Memory Crunch

Key points

• South Korean outlet The Chosun Daily reports Samsung is weighing a price hike of 100,000-130,000 won ($75-$100) for the Galaxy S27 series.
• The potential increase would follow a recent $100 MSRP hike for the existing Galaxy S26 models, which Samsung implemented months after their launch.
• If the rumor holds, the Galaxy S27 would start at $1,099, while the Galaxy S27 Ultra could debut at $1,499.99.
• The price increase is attributed to the ongoing 'RAMpocalypse' and rising memory chip costs, a trend also affecting Apple's iPhone 18 Pro series.
• The Galaxy S27 Ultra is rumored to feature a Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6 chip, a 5,700mAh battery, and a redesigned camera system, potentially justifying the higher cost for that specific model.

Background

Samsung recently raised prices for the Galaxy S26 lineup by $100, mirroring a similar move by Apple for the iPhone 17 and 18 Pro series. Earlier rumors suggested the Galaxy S27 might offer better value, but recent leaks indicate a continued upward trend in pricing due to supply chain pressures. The S27 series is expected to launch in February 2027, with the Ultra model featuring significant hardware upgrades including a larger battery and new camera sensors, while the base and Plus models are rumored to have more incremental changes.

How outlets are covering it

PhoneArena and GSMArena both cite The Chosun Daily as the source for the potential $75-$100 price hike, noting that the report does not specify if this is on top of the recent S26 price increase or based on original launch prices. PhoneArena suggests the hike may be selective, potentially affecting only higher storage configurations, while GSMArena highlights that a previous rumor suggested base models could rise by $95 and higher storage variants by up to $200. Mashable provides a broader pricing structure, citing a leak that lists the S27 Ultra at $1,399, the S27 Pro at $1,299, the S27+ at $1,099, and the base S27 at $899, which conflicts with the higher figures suggested by PhoneArena. SamMobile focuses on chip allocation, noting that the Exynos 2700 may not be used in the S27 Ultra, which could impact production costs and pricing strategies. The outlets agree that memory costs are the primary driver for the price increases, but they differ on the exact final price points and whether the hike will be uniform across all models.

Why it matters

The potential price hike for the Galaxy S27 series reflects the broader impact of memory chip shortages on the smartphone industry. For consumers, this means that even the latest flagship devices may not offer better value for money, as incremental upgrades may not justify significant price increases. The situation also highlights the competitive pressure between Samsung and Apple, both of which have recently raised prices for their latest models. For Samsung, the challenge is to justify the higher costs through meaningful hardware improvements, particularly for the base and Plus models, which are rumored to have fewer upgrades compared to the Ultra.

What to watch

Samsung is expected to launch the Galaxy S27 series in February 2027, likely at a Galaxy Unpacked event. More specific pricing details are expected to emerge as the launch date approaches. The company may also clarify whether the price hike will apply to all models or only to higher storage configurations. Additionally, the performance and features of the Galaxy S27 Ultra, including its new camera system and battery, will be closely scrutinized to determine if the higher price is justified.