Photo by Rodion Kutsaiev on Unsplash
Samsung raised prices across the Galaxy S26 lineup in India on September 23, 2026, with some configurations going up by as much as Rs 25,000 just months after launch. If you were waiting for Samsung's current flagship to become more affordable, the opposite has happened -- and the reason behind it says something important about where phone pricing in India is headed for the rest of this year.
What Changed on September 23
According to Deccan Herald's reporting, Samsung revised Galaxy S26, S26+, and S26 Ultra prices through a retailer pricing document, pushing the base Galaxy S26 to Rs 1,02,999 and the Ultra variant to a starting price of Rs 1,54,999. 91mobiles' coverage notes the revised lineup now starts above Rs 1 lakh across the board, a jump of Rs 15,000 to Rs 25,000 depending on the specific model and storage configuration.
Why a Phone That Already Launched Got More Expensive
The increase isn't tied to a new chip or camera upgrade -- it's about what's inside the phone that hasn't changed. Industry coverage has taken to calling the underlying problem "RAMageddon": since mid-2025, the cost of the DRAM and flash memory chips that go into every smartphone has climbed sharply as global demand for AI hardware pulls memory-chip manufacturing capacity away from consumer devices. Samsung, despite making much of its own memory, hasn't been insulated from what that's done to its own component costs, and the Galaxy S26 revision is the clearest sign yet that even a three-month-old flagship isn't safe from a fresh price increase.
What This Means If You're Buying a Phone Right Now
A mid-cycle price hike like this changes the math for anyone timing a phone purchase in India. Waiting for a flagship to get cheaper after launch used to be a reasonably safe bet -- discounts would show up within a few months as retailers cleared stock. That logic assumed a stable component market. With memory costs still climbing, there's a real chance prices move up again before they come down, on the Galaxy S26 or on whatever else you were considering.
The more predictable way to sidestep this is to buy a unit that's already priced below the current new-in-box rate. Get Like New's unboxed phones are sold at a fixed discount to retail pricing set before this round of hikes, which means you're not exposed to whatever Samsung, Apple, or anyone else decides to do with pricing next month.
A few things worth knowing before buying unboxed in India:
- Every unboxed phone from Get Like New comes with a 6-month brand warranty.
- There's no change-of-mind return once you've purchased, but transit damage is covered through a defect remedy process if you've recorded an unboxing video.
- If the phone isn't right for you, the buyback program lets you sell it back within 15 days for 80% of your purchase price.
- Orders above Rs 5,000 ship free, with 1-2 business days of processing and 7-10 business days for delivery.
If this round of price hikes has you reconsidering a laptop purchase too, the same underlying memory shortage is pushing up new laptop prices -- browsing unboxed laptops or refurbished laptops gets you hardware priced before this cost pressure hit, rather than after.
Bottom Line
Samsung's decision to raise Galaxy S26 prices by up to Rs 25,000 just months after launch shows that waiting out a flagship's price in India is riskier than it used to be. With global memory costs still rising, buying a unit that's already priced below current retail -- rather than betting on a discount that may not come -- is the more reliable way to save right now.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Samsung raise Galaxy S26 prices in India?
Samsung cited rising global memory chip costs, sometimes called the "RAMageddon" effect, as the driver behind the September 23, 2026 price revision across the Galaxy S26 lineup.
How much more expensive did the Galaxy S26 get?
Depending on the model and storage configuration, prices rose by Rs 15,000 to Rs 25,000, with the base Galaxy S26 now starting at Rs 1,02,999 and the Galaxy S26 Ultra starting at Rs 1,54,999.
Does buying an unboxed phone protect me from future price hikes?
Yes, in the sense that an unboxed phone is priced at the time you buy it, based on the unit already in stock -- you're not exposed to a manufacturer's future price revisions the way you would be buying new-in-box at that point.
What warranty comes with an unboxed phone from Get Like New?
Unboxed phones carry a 6-month brand warranty. There's no change-of-mind return, but transit damage is covered through a defect remedy process when an unboxing video is provided.
Can I sell the phone back if it doesn't work out?
Yes. Get Like New's buyback program lets you sell the phone back within 15 days of purchase for 80% of what you paid.
