Samsung's plan to keep Galaxy S27 prices down is dead, so prepare to pay more
Android Police 2026-06-30 15:37:54
Context: Samsung's plan to use cheaper display panels from Chinese company BOE for its upcoming Galaxy S27 phones has fallen through, likely resulting in the company manufacturing the displays itself. This development may lead to significant price increases for the new range of Samsung flagships. The deal's termination comes amid pressure on the component market, driven in part by the rapid adoption of AI technology.
Key Facts
- A deal between Samsung and BOE, a Chinese company, that would have secured cheaper OLED panels for the Galaxy S27 phones has been terminated, with BOE reportedly being the party that ended the project.
- The terminated deal was first reported in May, and it was expected to be the first time one of Samsung's flagship phones wouldn't feature a Samsung-made panel, with BOE capable of creating similar OLED displays for around 20% less than Samsung.
- Samsung Display, the company's display manufacturing arm, reportedly showed considerable resistance to the idea of using BOE's panels, which may have contributed to the deal's termination.
- The component market is under pressure due to the rapid adoption of AI technology, which is driving up prices for components such as storage, RAM, and processors, and is expected to lead to price increases for the Galaxy S27 range.
- Experts previously predicted that the Galaxy S27's sticker price could rise by between $50-100 compared to its predecessor, and with the expected increase in cost of the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 Pro, the next generation of flagship phones could set new records in cost.