Samsung’s upcoming flagship smartphones may see price increases, potentially surpassing their main competitor, the iPhone. According to the Korea Industry Post, the higher costs are largely attributed to the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 2 chip, Qualcomm’s next-generation processor. This chip, expected to power the Galaxy S25 line, is reportedly even more expensive than its predecessors, driving up production costs.
Currently, the Galaxy S24 Ultra is priced lower than the iPhone 16 Pro Max, starting at $1069 compared to the iPhone’s $12,999. However, this pricing advantage might reverse in future generations. In the U.S., the Galaxy S25 Ultra is anticipated to cost $100 more than its predecessor, a price hike that will vary across global markets. By 2026, the Galaxy S26 Ultra could see an additional $100 increase, although Samsung might absorb some of these costs to avoid deterring consumers.
To manage escalating chip prices, Samsung is considering shifting some of its devices to in-house Exynos processors. However, low production efficiency—operating at just 10% of capacity—has made large-scale manufacturing challenging. There are even rumors that Samsung may outsource Exynos chip production to Taiwan’s TSMC to improve yields. This comes as Samsung recently shuttered a factory in Texas before it could reach full operational capacity.
As for the Galaxy S25 Ultra, many of its key specifications are already known. The device is expected to offer significant upgrades in performance and camera technology alongside a revamped design for better ergonomics. These changes, however, could come at a higher cost for consumers globally.
