Samsung Weighs S26 Price Hike, Expands Refurbished Phones
Samsung Weighs S26 Price Hike, Expands Refurbished Phones
Anonymous
Key Points
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Samsung held 39% of Latin America’s smartphone market in the second quarter, shipping 12 million units despite a 12.9% quarter-on-quarter market contraction. Xiaomi’s shipments fell 18.3% to 4.9 million units, reducing its share to 16%.
2
Samsung’s share in the Middle East rose five percentage points to 39% in the second quarter, while Honor’s share fell from 18% to 13% and Transsion’s declined from 12% to 11%. In India, Samsung held a 17.4% share with 5.9 million shipments, narrowing its gap with Vivo to 1.2 percentage points.
3
The proposed Galaxy S26 price change would be implemented from October 1 and add 149,600 won to each model’s factory-gate price, according to telecom operators’ notices to distribution channels. A sales-store representative called it the first price increase of this kind in their career.
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South Korea’s Certified Re-Newed models will include a two-year manufacturer warranty, unlike the offering in India, and the S26 lineup is reaching Samsung’s refurbished program only about six months after its global release—much earlier than the S24 and S25 series, which took more than a year.
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Samsung had already raised prices for some earlier products in April, including the Galaxy S25 Edge 512GB by 110,000 won and the Galaxy Z Fold7 1TB by 193,600 won. TrendForce data cited in the report showed general-purpose DRAM prices rising roughly 58% to 63% year over year in the second quarter.
Samsung is pursuing an aggressive two-track strategy in emerging markets, boosting its budget Galaxy A lineup while expanding premium refurbished Galaxy S26 sales. The company led smartphone shipments across Latin America, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia in the second quarter, as Chinese rivals lost ground. Meanwhile, 9to5Google reports that Samsung is considering an unprecedented post-launch price hike for the Galaxy S26 in South Korea, potentially raising the base model by roughly 149,600 won starting October 1 amid surging memory-chip costs.
Simultaneously, Samsung has introduced certified refurbished Galaxy S26, S26 Plus, and S26 Ultra models across South Korea, India, and Europe, priced about 15% below new devices. AndroidCentral notes the S26 Ultra starts at roughly $1,099 in the refurbished program, offering consumers a way to access flagship features at a discount while Samsung navigates market pressure and rising component costs.
Samsung Gains Ground in Emerging Markets
Samsung shipped 12 million units and held 39% of Latin America's smartphone market in the second quarter, even as the overall market shrank 12.9%. Xiaomi's shipments fell 18.3% to just 4.9 million units, dropping its share to 16%. The South Korean company's performance stands out against broader headwinds facing the industry and its competitors.
In the Middle East, Samsung's share jumped five percentage points to 39% during the same period. Honor's market presence fell from 18% to 13%, while Transsion dropped from 12% to 11%. The gains show Samsung is successfully navigating regional competition while rivals stumble.
Memory-Chip Costs Force South Korea Price Increase
Samsung plans to raise Galaxy S26 prices by roughly 149,600 won per model starting October 1, according to telecom operator notices. The 256GB base model would jump from 1.254 million won to approximately 1.4 million won. A sales-store representative called it the first price increase of this magnitude in their career, signaling how severe cost pressures have become.
The price surge reflects sharply higher memory-chip costs. TrendForce data shows general-purpose DRAM prices climbed 58% to 63% year-over-year in the second quarter alone. Samsung already raised prices on earlier products in April, including the Galaxy S25 Edge 512GB by 110,000 won and the Galaxy Z Fold7 1TB by 193,600 won, suggesting the company has been managing cost pressures for months.
Refurbished S26 Models Arrive in Multiple Markets
Samsung's Certified Re-Newed program has expanded to include the Galaxy S26 series across South Korea, India, and Europe. AndroidPure reports the S26 base model starts at $759, roughly $200 below new pricing. The rollout occurred less than six months after the flagship series launched globally—far faster than earlier generations like the S24 and S25, which took more than a year to reach the refurbished program.
South Korea's Re-Newed models come with a two-year manufacturer warranty, unlike the Indian offering. Each device is assembled by Samsung engineers using 100% genuine Samsung parts and includes a new battery. SammyGuru notes the program is available through Samsung.com, giving consumers an official channel to access flagship performance at a discount while helping Samsung move inventory amid rising component costs and market uncertainty.
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