Samsung Galaxy S23 leak hints at a price increase for this year’s flagships
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We’re getting new Samsung Galaxy S23 leaks and rumors pretty much every day at this point, and today’s price is about – with indications that you’ll have to pay a bit more to get your hands on this year’s flagship phones.
According to Twitter tip @OreXda (opens in new tab) (through Notebook check (opens in new tab)), in South Korea we are looking at prices of 1,199,000 won for the standard model, 1,397,000 won for the Plus edition and 1,599,400 won for the top-end Ultra version of the Galaxy S23.
For comparison, in the same country, the Samsung Galaxy S22 cost 999,900 won, the Galaxy S22 Plus cost 1,199,000 won and the Galaxy S22 Ultra went on sale for 1,452,000 won. We’re looking at about a 10-20% price increase if those numbers are accurate.
Price increase
At the current exchange rate, the equivalent price for the standard Galaxy S23 is around $955 / £790 / AU$1,390, while the Galaxy S22 started at $799 / £769 / AU$1,249. But what about currency and market fluctuations, we wouldn’t pay too much attention to those equivalent values except as rough guidelines.
There has been talk that the Galaxy S23 handsets would cost more than their Galaxy S22 equivalents, supporting this rumor. Manufacturers are still recovering from the effects of the pandemic, while inflation continues to push prices up globally.
With that and other factors in mind, it wouldn’t really be a surprise if the Galaxy S23 phones came in at a higher starting price than the 2022 phones they replace. It’s a trend we may also see for the rest of the year as cell phone makers grapple with rising costs across the industry.
Analysis: the cost of the flagship
As our list of the best cheap phones shows, there are plenty of bargains to be had when it comes to smartphones. That said, the price of high-end flagship phones looks set to only go in one direction for the foreseeable future: up.
Of course, there are all sorts of economic factors that play a role in the price of the smartphones we have in our pocket, but right now none of them will drive the cost down. For example, the iPhone 14 Pro started with a slightly higher price than the iPhone 13 Pro for people outside the US.
It might be in the mid-range where the best value can be had in 2023. Phones that don’t have the very latest processors and camera sensors, but still have a decent level of gloss and performance. The next notable phone in this particular segment of the market could well be the Google Pixel 7a.
While premium phones will still be available for those who want the very best components and have the budget to buy them, the Galaxy S23 could lead the way in terms of price increases in the coming months. We will know for sure on February 1.