All articles tagged with #price hike
Samsung increased prices for the Galaxy S26, S26 Plus, and S26 Ultra by $100, with the 1TB Ultra rising by $200. The Galaxy A-series mid-rangers also saw price increases. Samsung did not issue an official statement, but the hikes align with a global memory shortage driven by AI data center demand. Apple and Google have also raised prices on recent devices.
Disney+ and Hulu raised prices for the fourth consecutive year, with ad-free plans now costing $21.49 per month. This 13% increase has prompted a wave of cancellations, with some subscribers quitting after years of loyalty. While Disney defends the move as industry-standard, critics point to a 207% price rise since 2019 and growing consumer fatigue with 'streamflation.'
Disney has increased the cost of its streaming services for the fourth year in a row, with ad-free plans rising by 13%. The move aims to push consumers toward bundled subscriptions to reduce churn, continuing a broader industry trend of rising costs.
Apple reportedly struck a 2027 memory deal with Samsung that elevates DRAM and VNAND prices by about 30–40%, a move likely to translate into higher iPhone prices next year; with the iPhone 18 Pro/Max starting at $1,199 and $1,299 respectively, and broader supplier costs, price hikes could ripple to Android rivals as well.
A South Korean report claims Samsung is planning about a $110 price increase across the Galaxy S26 lineup, with October 1, 2026 as the date; while an Amazon listing hints at a higher base price for the Galaxy S26 Ultra, Samsung's US price currently remains $1,299 on its site and nothing official has been announced yet.
Trump Mobile quietly raised the price of its T1 Phone to $749—a $250 jump from the $499 launch price—without any hardware changes, and the update appeared on the site overnight. In reviews, the device remains unimpressive at this price compared with other flagships, and there has been only one software update since launch; BBC reports some buyers did not receive their phones. The move comes amid broader RAM-price pressures in tech.
Intel reportedly plans a 10% CPU price increase in October to lift gross margins as global PC shipments are expected to dip; the move could affect desktop CPUs and possibly mobile chips, and comes alongside talk of ending the Small Core line, potential staffing cuts, and a shift to prioritize higher-margin server CPUs and its own fabs, which could affect Intel's market share.
Iran rolled out a second gasoline-price hike this year, charging the heaviest users about 100,000 rials per liter (about 7 cents) for more than 110 liters a month, affecting roughly 15% of consumers. Officials say the extra revenue will go to households, even as the rial weakens, inflation runs around 67%, and domestic consumption hits record levels, potentially fueling further price pressures.
Google has raised prices on its Google TV Streamer (up 50% to $149.99) and on Nest devices (Doorbell and Cam models up by $20–$50), citing higher memory and component costs; the changes are effective August 31 and follow similar hikes from Amazon and Apple.
Google has quietly raised the Google TV Streamer price by 50% to $150, up from $100, with no official explanation. The device remains available from Google and retailers like Best Buy, while Amazon still lists it at $100 at the time of writing; analysts note RAM supply pressures could be a possible factor behind the hike.
Amazon has raised prices across its gadget lineup amid a RAM-cost surge dubbed the “RAMpocalypse,” with the Kindle family leading the hike: Kindle (16GB) from $110 to $150, Kindle Kids (16GB) from $130 to $180, Kindle Paperwhite (16GB) from $160 to $200, Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition (32GB) from $200 to $250, and Kindle Colorsoft from $250 to $290. Kindle Scribe and Kindle Scribe Colorsoft keep their starting prices at $400 and $680, respectively. Other devices also see increases, including Echo devices (e.g., Echo Show 21 from $400 to $500) and Fire TV Sticks (4K Max from $60 to $85). Amazon says memory/storage costs drove the hikes, while critics call it price gouging and warn that older Kindles may be sunset or bricked to push upgrades.
Iran signals another petrol-price increase as Western sanctions and the war deepen economic strain, weighing three options to curb the subsidy bill: keep prices with rationing, give every Iranian a monthly 30-litre quota, or liberalise prices toward refinery costs. A pilot liberalisation was halted amid pushback, quotas have been tightened, and officials warn of inflation and currency depreciation as IMF projections show GDP contraction.
Xiaomi will raise prices on several smartphones and tablets by up to ¥20,000 (~$137) citing soaring memory and component costs, with the biggest increases hitting the Xiaomi 17T Pro and multiple POCO X8 Pro configurations; price changes take effect in September, reflecting a broader industry trend as memory shortages push up device costs.
Peacock is raising prices across its plans: ad-supported Peacock Premium to $12.99/month, ad-free Peacock Premium Plus to $19.99/month, and Peacock Select to $8.99/month, effective for new billing dates. NBCUniversal says profitability can vary by quarter due to sports and content schedules, even as Peacock posted its first profitable quarter and grew to about 48 million subscribers in Q2. The service continues heavy investment in live sports and events (NFL, NBA, WNBA, Premier League, college sports) and features a lineup including The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, Obsession, The Traitors, and Love Island USA.
June 2026 price increases have driven the MacBook Pro M5 price higher, with little chance of immediate drops. The article recommends waiting for potential new models like an OLED-equipped MacBook Ultra, or downgrading to cheaper options (MacBook Air M5, M4, MacBook Pro with M2) if a purchase isn’t urgent, as upgrades may be worth it only for those who need top performance.