Samsung has raised the price of every Galaxy S26 phone in India. The Galaxy S26 price hike is Rs 15,000 on most models and Rs 25,000 on the top Ultra, effective 23 September.
So the cheapest Galaxy S26 now costs Rs 1,02,999. In other words, you now need more than Rs 1 lakh just to get the entry model.
Below you will find the old and new price of every model, why this is happening, and what we would actually do if you were planning to buy one.
The Short Version
- New starting price: Rs 1,02,999 for the Galaxy S26, up from Rs 87,999.
- Biggest jump: Rs 25,000 on the Galaxy S26 Ultra with 1TB, now Rs 2,14,999.
- Effective from: 23 September 2026, across Samsung’s retail channels.
- Reason: Samsung has not given one. Reports point to memory chip costs.
- Our take: The Galaxy S26+ is now the hardest model to recommend.
- Cheaper option: The Galaxy S26 FE still sells at Rs 79,999.
Every New Galaxy S26 Price in India
Here is the full list. The numbers match across Digit, SamMobile and India TV News.
| Model | Variant | Old price | New price | Increase |
|—|—|—|—|—|
| Galaxy S26 | 12GB + 256GB | Rs 87,999 | Rs 1,02,999 | Rs 15,000 |
| Galaxy S26 | 12GB + 512GB | Rs 1,07,999 | Rs 1,22,999 | Rs 15,000 |
| Galaxy S26+ | 12GB + 256GB | Rs 1,19,999 | Rs 1,34,999 | Rs 15,000 |
| Galaxy S26+ | 12GB + 512GB | Rs 1,39,999 | Rs 1,54,999 | Rs 15,000 |
| Galaxy S26 Ultra | 12GB + 256GB | Rs 1,39,999 | Rs 1,54,999 | Rs 15,000 |
| Galaxy S26 Ultra | 12GB + 512GB | Rs 1,59,999 | Rs 1,74,999 | Rs 15,000 |
| Galaxy S26 Ultra | 16GB + 1TB | Rs 1,89,999 | Rs 2,14,999 | Rs 25,000 |
As a result, the base Galaxy S26 went up by about 17%. That is a lot for a phone that has been on sale for months.
If you want a refresher on what these phones offer, read our Galaxy S26 series explainer.
Why Samsung Raised Prices Now
Samsung has not explained the change. According to SamMobile, the new prices reached retailers without any official statement.
However, most reports point to memory. RAM and storage chips cost far more this year, largely because AI data centres are buying them up. We covered this in why smartphone prices are rising in 2026.
That also explains why the 1TB Ultra took the biggest hit. More storage means more expensive chips inside.
Meanwhile, the hike is not limited to flagships. Sammy Fans reports that the Galaxy A36 and A56 also went up by Rs 3,000 each.
The Galaxy S26+ Problem
This is the part that stings most. After the hike, the Galaxy S26+ with 512GB costs Rs 1,54,999.
That is exactly the same price as the Galaxy S26 Ultra with 256GB. So you now choose between more storage and the better phone.
For most people, the Ultra wins that trade. It has the stronger cameras, the S Pen and the bigger zoom. You can also use cloud storage or a cheap pen drive for extra space.
As a result, we would skip the 512GB S26+ entirely. The 256GB S26+ still makes sense only if you want a big screen and not a big price tag.
What Retailers Are Saying
Shops are not happy either. Digit reports that the All India Mobile Retailers Association (AIMRA) flagged the increases.
Its chairman, Kailash Lakhyani, reportedly said price hikes are hurting how people buy phones. According to AIMRA, buyers are moving to refurbished phones or simply waiting.
That matters for you, too. If sales slow down, Samsung may add bank offers later to win buyers back. However, nothing like that has been announced.
Will Big Billion Days Fix This?
Probably not fully. Flipkart Big Billion Days and the Amazon Great Indian Festival start in early October.
Bank offers can soften a Rs 15,000 hike, but they rarely cancel it. Sammy Fans makes the same point, saying festive sales won’t make a big difference.
Still, it is worth checking which card gives the better deal. Our Flipkart vs Amazon sale guide breaks down the bank offers on each site.
The Cheaper Way to Get a Samsung Flagship
The Galaxy S26 FE is the obvious alternative. It launched at Rs 79,999 for 8GB + 256GB, and it is not on the list of models that went up.
According to Gizbot, it runs on the Exynos 2500 chip and has a 6.7-inch 120Hz screen. It also has a 3x telephoto camera and a 4,900mAh battery.
Better still, Samsung promises seven Android upgrades and seven years of security updates. Launch offers include an exchange bonus of up to Rs 8,000.
That puts the FE Rs 23,000 below the new base S26. For most buyers, that gap is too big to ignore.
Should You Buy a Galaxy S26 Now?
Buy the S26 Ultra if you want the best Samsung camera and planned to spend Rs 1.5 lakh anyway. The 256GB model is still the smart pick. Our Galaxy S26 Ultra guide covers what is new.
Buy the S26 FE if you mainly want Samsung software and long updates. It is the best value in the lineup right now.
Wait if you own a Galaxy S24 or S25. Your phone is still well supported, and you would pay more for less of an upgrade.
Skip the S26+ 512GB. At the same price as the Ultra, it is the worst deal in the range.
Quick Answers
Is the Galaxy S26 price hike permanent?
Samsung has not said. Price cuts later are possible, but nothing is confirmed.
Does the hike apply online too?
Reports say it applies across Samsung’s channels. Check the live price on Samsung.com, Flipkart and Amazon before you buy.
Did the Galaxy S26 FE get more expensive?
No. It still lists at Rs 79,999, based on the reports we checked.
Which Galaxy S26 model gives the best value now?
The S26 Ultra 256GB, if you want a flagship. Otherwise, the S26 FE.
The Bottom Line
The Galaxy S26 price hike makes Samsung’s flagships Rs 15,000 to Rs 25,000 harder to justify. The base S26 crossing Rs 1 lakh is a big psychological line, and the S26+ now makes little sense.
Our advice is simple. Get the Ultra 256GB if you want the best, get the FE if you want value, and skip the middle.
Several things are still unknown. Samsung has not confirmed the reason, and we do not know if festive sale offers will cover part of the gap. Nor do we know if other brands will follow. We will update this post when Samsung says more.
