SEOUL — Samsung Electronics has officially adjusted the factory prices of several high-capacity smartphone models, citing the dual pressures of a weak local currency and the rising costs of essential hardware components.

According to industry sources on April 1, Samsung implemented price hikes for the 512GB versions of the Galaxy Z Flip 7 and Galaxy Z Fold 7, both of which were launched in July last year. The retail price for the Flip 7 (512GB) rose by 94,600 KRW, moving from 1,643,400 KRW to 1,738,000 KRW. Similarly, the Fold 7 (512GB) saw its price climb from 2,537,700 KRW to 2,632,300 KRW.

The most significant jump was reserved for the ultra-high-capacity Fold 7 1TB model. Its price surged by 193,600 KRW, pushing the final cost to 3,127,300 KRW—a milestone figure that reflects the increasing premium on massive mobile storage.

Ripple Effects Beyond Foldables
The price adjustments were not limited to the foldable lineup. The Galaxy S25 Edge (512GB), released in May 2025, also saw a price correction. Its retail price was hiked by 110,000 KRW, bringing the new total to 1,749,000 KRW.

Analysts suggest that this mid-cycle price hike is an inevitable response to the volatile global economy. The persistent strength of the US Dollar has made importing raw materials and specialized semiconductors significantly more expensive for the South Korean tech giant. Furthermore, the rising cost of advanced memory chips and foldable display panels has compressed profit margins to a point where a price adjustment became necessary.

Strategic Price Shielding
Despite the increases, Samsung appears to be employing a "surgical" pricing strategy. By keeping the prices of the 256GB models—the most popular choice among general consumers—stable, the company aims to protect its market share and prevent a mass exodus of price-sensitive customers.

"The decision to limit price hikes to the 512GB and 1TB tiers shows Samsung's intent to absorb some of the cost pressure on high-volume models while passing on the burden where the bill of materials (BOM) is highest," noted an industry analyst.

Outlook for the Galaxy S26
For consumers looking at the newest hardware, there is a silver lining. The Galaxy S26 series, which hit shelves just last month, is currently exempt from these price hikes. Sources close to the matter indicate that Samsung is not considering a price increase for the S26 lineup at this stage, likely to maintain the momentum of its flagship launch and honor early-adopter pricing commitments.

However, with global supply chains remaining unpredictable, the industry remains on high alert for further adjustments in the latter half of 2026.

[Copyright (c) Global Economic Times. All Rights Reserved.]