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

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

(Prototype credit: Permit's Go Digital)

Some potentially bad news surfaced for anyone anticipating the Samsung Milky way S22 launch, which is probable to happen inside a month or 2. If y'all were planning on getting the next version of Samsung's flagship phone, it sounds similar y'all'll demand to budget a niggling extra money over last year's models.

That's because a single leaker is claiming that Samsung is going to heighten the price of the iii Galaxy S22 models over what information technology charged for the iii comparable Galaxy S21 phones. As you may recall, Samsung slashed prices on final yr's flagships, introducing the Galaxy S21 at $799. The Galaxy S21 Plus and Milky way S21 Ultra saw similar discounts, costing $999 and $1,199, respectively.

But leaker @chunvn8888, posting on Twitter, says Samsung plans to tack another $100 on the price of the diverse S22 models. That would hateful a starting toll 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 (in a higher place means more than storage and cellular connectivity)Will update the exact Tab S8 series prices soon.January 11, 2022

Run into more

Information technology bears pointing out that we don't know for sure if this price hike is gear up in stone or if information technology's even something Samsung is because. It's the word of one leaker at this point and not one of the more established ones at that. Should yous run across similar prices repeated past other sources, then it'due south fourth dimension to acknowledge there might actually be some fire to this smoke.

Even if the price hike rumor turns out to exist true, though, it's not the end of the world. I don't want to minimize the impact of rising costs — not in this economy — but there may be a couple silver linings to be found should Samsung feel it's necessary to charge more for the Milky way S22.

A college cost suggests a bigger Galaxy S22 update

Non many people would begrudge Samsung upping the price of the Galaxy S22 Ultra, based on the rumors surrounding that particular model. Not only is that telephone expected to get a new, more Galaxy Note-like design, the S Pen is likely to be included with the S22 Ultra — and non simply equally a standalone accompaniment, but an upgrade where the phone itself comes with a slot for the stylus. The Milky way S21 Ultra supported the S Pen, besides, but only as an optional accessory, and then you lot had to add that cost into the phone'due south $1,199 asking price. With the S22 Ultra, it sounds as if Samsung'southward taking that into account for y'all.

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

In contrast, the Galaxy S22 and Galaxy S22 Plus accept sound like more than small updates, at least in comparison to the more fully featured Ultra. The phones should have a more advanced chipset in the form of the Snapdragon eight Gen i and nosotros could get some pretty substantive photographic camera improvements, too. But at the aforementioned time, the displays on both new phones are rumored to be shrinking from the S21 and S21 Plus, which could hateful smaller batteries equally well.

In other words, there's going to need to be a feature in there to justify a $100 boost in starting cost. Maybe that'southward increased storage. Perhaps the Galaxy S22 and S22 Plus are likewise adapting the updated LTPO ii.0 display applied science that'due south slated to ability the newly announced OnePlus x Pro. Or maybe there's more to the photographic camera updates than only a main camera with more megapixels and a telephoto lens with a improve optical zoom.

At this point, that's all simply speculation as to the features Samsung might reveal. But ane thing that tin't be denied is that request people to pay $100 more than for a phone requires an explanation every bit to why this year'south model is at least $100 better than the electric current version. The onus will be on Samsung to evangelize on this indicate.

Samsung'south already got a low-cost alternative

Should the Milky way S22 prove to be too rich for your blood, you won't have to look also far for a more affordable option. Earlier this week, the Galaxy S21 Fe went on sale, and information technology'due south equally as capable as the Milky way S21 lineup it shares a proper name with.

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

I wrote our Galaxy S21 Atomic number 26 review, and really, my biggest complaints with the phone were the odd timing of its release — a piddling more than a month ahead of the Galaxy S22'due south rumored launch — and the fact that the price difference between information technology and the standard Galaxy S21 isn't all that big. A $200 toll deviation betwixt the Galaxy S21 Atomic number 26 and Milky way S22, though, is a lot more than noteworthy.

You can criticize Samsung for a cost hike on the S22 if you want, and fret virtually whether rewarding the company for such a movement past ownership its less expensive phone sends the wrong bulletin. Just the fact of the affair is the Galaxy S21 FE becomes a lot easier to recommend if this year'due south entry-level Galaxy Southward phone comes in at $899.

Samsung Galaxy S22 toll outlook

Were I a betting homo — and betting on telephone releases is a sign of a serious gambling addiction, so delight don't exercise it — I'd assume that the Galaxy S22 Ultra is going to become upward in cost. The phone'south more premium features justify the move.

On the other hand, I'd expect Samsung to endeavour to concord the line on the Galaxy S22 and Galaxy S22 Plus — or at least raise prices less than this latest rumor is challenge. Either that, or Samsung could have a more impressive update in the works than we realized.

Philip Michaels is a senior editor at Tom'due south Guide. He has stiff opinions about Apple, the Oakland Athletics and former movies. Follow him at @PhilipMichaels.