Samsung Galaxy S26 Series Prices Rise Amidst Chip Crisis
Jakarta, Indonesia – Samsung Electronics Indonesia has officially begun pre-orders for the Galaxy S26, S26+, and S26 Ultra, starting February 26th, 2026. However, the launch is accompanied by significant price increases across all three models, reflecting the ongoing global chip shortage and rising production costs.
Price Increases Across the Galaxy S26 Lineup
The base model, the Samsung Galaxy S26 (12GB/256GB), is priced at IDR 16,499,000, a rise of IDR 1.5 million compared to the previous generation. The 12GB/512GB variant sees an even steeper increase, costing IDR 19,499,000. The Galaxy S26+ likewise experiences price hikes, with the 12GB/256GB model at IDR 19,499,000 and the 12GB/512GB version priced at IDR 22,499,000.
The premium Galaxy S26 Ultra sees the most substantial price jump. The 12GB/256GB model is available for IDR 24,499,000, while the 12GB/512GB configuration costs IDR 27,499,000. A new high-end variant, featuring 16GB of RAM and 1TB of storage, is priced at IDR 31,999,000.
Global Impact of the Chip Shortage
These price increases are not limited to Indonesia. Reports indicate that several Galaxy S26 models in the United States and South Korea have also seen price adjustments. This move is largely attributed to the ongoing pressure from the memory chip crisis, which is driving up production costs and eroding profit margins for consumer electronics manufacturers (Reuters).
Samsung Warned of Chip Supply Issues
In January 2026, Samsung cautioned about a looming chip shortage, anticipating increased demand from the burgeoning artificial intelligence (AI) sector would strain the supply of smartphone and display components (Reuters). Despite this challenge, Samsung reported a record-breaking operating profit in the fourth quarter of 2025, more than tripling its earnings, driven by strong demand for its memory chips.
Kim Jaejune, Samsung’s memory chip business executive, stated that “significant overall memory product shortages are expected to continue for some time” (Reuters).
Impact on Samsung’s Business Units
While the chip business thrived, Samsung’s mobile division experienced a 10% decrease in profits, pressured by rising chip prices. Analysts predict that the increasing cost of memory will continue to impact Samsung’s mobile business, and potentially affect lower-priced models more significantly due to their thinner profit margins.
Samsung’s display business also anticipates a challenging year, with potential pressure from customers seeking price reductions amidst the higher component costs.
Pre-Order Benefits
To mitigate the impact of the price increases, Samsung is offering several pre-order benefits in Indonesia, available from February 26th to March 17th, 2026. These include a free memory upgrade (receiving a 512GB model when purchasing a 256GB variant), cashback offers through partner banks (up to IDR 2,000,000), enhanced trade-in values (up to IDR 1,000,000 for older Galaxy devices), increased Samsung Rewards points (up to 5x), and an e-voucher worth IDR 500,000 for future accessory purchases (Kompas Tekno, Media Indonesia).
Key Specifications
The Galaxy S26 and S26+ are powered by the Exynos 2600 chipset, fabricated using a 2nm process, promising improved power efficiency. The Galaxy S26 Ultra continues to utilize the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy to maximize performance (Media Indonesia).