Samsung Galaxy S22 price hike — here's why it could cost more

Samsung Galaxy S22 price hike — here's why information technology could cost more than

(Image credit: Permit'due south Go Digital)

Some potentially bad news surfaced for anyone anticipating the Samsung Milky way S22 launch, which is likely to happen within a month or ii. If you were planning on getting the next version of Samsung's flagship phone, information technology sounds like you'll need to budget a little actress money over last year'due south models.

That'southward because a single leaker is challenge that Samsung is going to raise the price of the three Galaxy S22 models over what it charged for the 3 comparable Milky way S21 phones. As you may recall, Samsung slashed prices on last year's flagships, introducing the Galaxy S21 at $799. The Milky way S21 Plus and Milky way S21 Ultra saw like discounts, costing $999 and $1,199, respectively.

Only leaker @chunvn8888, posting on Twitter, says Samsung plans to tack another $100 on the price of the various S22 models. That would mean a starting price of $899 for the Galaxy S22, while the Plus and Ultra versions would price a respect $1,099 and $1,299.

Wrap up the S22 series and Tab S8 series pricesS22: $899S22+: $1099S22U: $1299Tab S8: under $850Tab S8+: $900-1000Tab S8U: around 1100 and higher up (above means more storage and cellular connectivity)Will update the exact Tab S8 series prices shortly.Jan 11, 2022

It bears pointing out that we don't know for certain if this toll hike is ready in rock or if it'south even something Samsung is considering. It's the give-and-take of one leaker at this point and non one of the more established ones at that. Should you see similar prices repeated by other sources, and then it's fourth dimension to acknowledge at that place might actually exist some burn down to this smoke.

Even if the price hike rumor turns out to be true, though, it'southward not the end of the earth. I don't desire to minimize the impact of rising costs — not in this economy — but there may exist a couple silverish linings to be found should Samsung feel it'due south necessary to accuse more for the Galaxy S22.

A college price suggests a bigger Galaxy S22 update

Not many people would begrudge Samsung upping the cost of the Galaxy S22 Ultra, based on the rumors surrounding that particular model. Not simply is that phone expected to go a new, more than Milky way Note-like design, the S Pen is likely to be included with the S22 Ultra — and not just as a standalone accompaniment, simply an upgrade where the phone itself comes with a slot for the stylus. The Galaxy S21 Ultra supported the S Pen, too, only simply every bit an optional accessory, and so you had to add that cost into the phone's $1,199 asking price. With the S22 Ultra, it sounds equally if Samsung's taking that into business relationship for you.

leaked image of a lavender galaxy s22 ultra on a table with a clear case beside it — A higher Milky way S22 Ultra price might exist justified past the inclusion of an S Pen. (Paradigm credit: Ice Universe)

In dissimilarity, the Galaxy S22 and Milky way S22 Plus have sound similar more pocket-size updates, at least in comparison to the more fully featured Ultra. The phones should have a more than avant-garde chipset in the form of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 and nosotros could become some pretty substantive photographic camera improvements, also. Only at the same fourth dimension, the displays on both new phones are rumored to be shrinking from the S21 and S21 Plus, which could hateful smaller batteries too.

In other words, in that location'due south going to need to be a characteristic in there to justify a $100 boost in starting cost. Maybe that's increased storage. Maybe the Galaxy S22 and S22 Plus are likewise adapting the updated LTPO 2.0 display engineering science that's slated to power the newly announced OnePlus 10 Pro. Or maybe in that location's more to the camera updates than just a main camera with more megapixels and a telephoto lens with a amend optical zoom.

At this point, that'southward all just speculation as to the features Samsung might reveal. Only one matter that can't be denied is that request people to pay $100 more for a telephone requires an explanation as to why this yr's model is at least $100 meliorate than the current version. The onus will be on Samsung to deliver on this point.

Samsung's already got a low-cost culling

Should the Galaxy S22 testify to be besides rich for your claret, you won't have to look also far for a more affordable option. Before this week, the Galaxy S21 FE went on sale, and it's as as capable equally the Galaxy S21 lineup it shares a name with.

Samsung galaxy s21 fe review — So it's depression-cost Samsung flagships you're looking for? The Milky way S21 FE says "How-do-you-do." (Image credit: Tom's Guide)

I wrote our Galaxy S21 FE review, and really, my biggest complaints with the phone were the odd timing of its release — a piffling more than a calendar month alee of the Milky way S22's rumored launch — and the fact that the cost divergence between it and the standard Milky way S21 isn't all that big. A $200 toll difference between the Galaxy S21 Iron and Galaxy S22, though, is a lot more noteworthy.

Y'all can criticize Samsung for a cost hike on the S22 if you want, and fret virtually whether rewarding the company for such a move by buying its less expensive phone sends the wrong message. Simply the fact of the thing is the Galaxy S21 FE becomes a lot easier to recommend if this twelvemonth's entry-level Milky way S phone comes in at $899.

Samsung Galaxy S22 price outlook

Were I a betting man — and betting on phone releases is a sign of a serious gambling addiction, so please don't do it — I'd assume that the Milky way S22 Ultra is going to go up in price. The phone's more premium features justify the move.

On the other hand, I'd await Samsung to endeavor to hold the line on the Galaxy S22 and Galaxy S22 Plus — or at least enhance prices less than this latest rumor is claiming. Either that, or Samsung could accept a more than impressive update in the works than nosotros realized.

Philip Michaels is a senior editor at Tom'southward Guide. He has strong opinions virtually Apple, the Oakland Athletics and old movies. Follow him at @PhilipMichaels.