Galaxy S27 Leaks Signal Steep Price Hikes Across All Models

Key points

• Tipster Lanzuk claims the entire Galaxy S27 lineup will be $74 to $96 more expensive than the S26 series in South Korea.
• Higher-storage variants are expected to see steeper price increases, with the 1TB S27 Ultra potentially approaching $2,000.
• The price hikes are attributed to the ongoing memory chip shortage and rising costs of LPDDR6 RAM and UFS 5.1 storage.
• Some leaks suggest only the S27 Ultra will see a major price increase, while others indicate the entire lineup will be affected.
• The S27 series is expected to launch in Q1 2027 with major upgrades, including a new design and improved camera software.

Background

The Galaxy S27 series is expected to launch in early 2027 with significant upgrades, including a new design for the Ultra model, brighter M16 OLED displays, and a mixed processor strategy. Recent leaks have also suggested the addition of a fourth model, the S27 Pro, and the potential inclusion of native Qi2 wireless charging. The S26 lineup, which launched earlier this year, already saw a $100 price increase over the S25 series due to rising RAM costs.

How outlets are covering it

PhoneArena and GSMArena both cite tipster Lanzuk, who claims the entire Galaxy S27 lineup will see a price increase of $74 to $96 in South Korea, with higher-storage variants facing steeper hikes. However, PhoneArena notes that another tipster, @phonefuturist, suggests only the S27 Ultra will see a major price increase, with the base model starting at $1,499. Gizmodo, on the other hand, focuses on the recent $100 price hike for the S26 lineup, noting that this is part of a broader trend of price increases across the tech industry due to the memory chip shortage. While all sources agree that the S27 will be more expensive, they differ on the extent of the increase and which models will be affected.

Why it matters

The potential price hikes for the Galaxy S27 series highlight the ongoing impact of the memory chip shortage on consumer electronics. As AI demand drives up the cost of RAM and storage, smartphone manufacturers are passing these costs on to consumers, leading to higher prices for flagship devices. This trend is likely to continue in the coming months, as other tech companies have also raised prices for their products. Consumers may need to consider purchasing new devices sooner rather than later to avoid further price increases.

What to watch

The Galaxy S27 series is expected to launch in Q1 2027, with official pricing to be announced closer to the release date. Samsung is expected to equip the top-tier version of the S27 Ultra with LPDDR6 RAM, which is more expensive than LPDDR5X. The company is also planning three important software-based camera upgrades for the S27 series, although there are reports that the Ultra model may not feature a dedicated 3x telephoto lens. Consumers should expect more leaks and rumors in the coming months as the launch date approaches.