Samsung’s Galaxy S23 series will be official in two weeks. The tech town is already abuzz with talks about the new flagships, and understandably so. The devices have a lot going for them, not least the 200MP camera on the Ultra model. But the latest piece of information about the upcoming Samsung flagships may put a few folks off. 9to5Google reports that the Galaxy S23 trio may cost at least $100 more than the Galaxy S22.
The publication has obtained the pricing structure of the unannounced Samsung phones for the Australian market. According to the new report, the Korean firm is planning to charge AU$1,350 for the 128GB storage variant of the base Galaxy S23 model. The 256GB variant would cost AUD 1,450. The Galaxy S23+ and Galaxy S23 Ultra reportedly start at AUD 1,650 and AUD 1,950, respectively. By comparison, the three Galaxy S22 models were priced at AUD 1,249, AUD 1,549, and AUD 1,849 respectively at launch last year.
The Galaxy S23 series may cost more than the Galaxy S22
As you can see, Samsung is increasing the Galaxy S23 price by AUD 100 across the board. Converting these Australian prices to USD at the current currency exchange rate, we are looking at a starting price tag of around $940 for the 128GB Galaxy S23. However, we aren’t expecting the 128GB storage option to arrive in the US. In that case, the new flagships may not start at under $1,000. This means a $200 price hike stateside. The Galaxy S22 series started at $799.
That said, price conversions aren’t always direct since factors like local tax affect the pricing in some markets. But it is looking highly unlikely for the Galaxy S23 series to arrive at the same price as the Galaxy S22. At least a $100 price hike looks inevitable. Even the Korean media suggested something similar earlier this month. The new flagships may cost 10-20 percent more than their respective predecessors in Samsung’s home country.
This price hike is likely because of the growing inflation and increased component costs. Samsung may try to justify it by offering double the base storage (256GB) in most markets. Of course, there are also a host of other upgrades on the new flagships. We are getting the latest Snapdragon processor globally, along with improved displays, a better fingerprint scanner, improved cameras, and a lot more. But the ongoing economic headwinds mean people are already spending cautiously. It remains to be seen whether the price hike affects the Galaxy S23 sales. The new Samsung flagships debut on February 1.
2023-01-18 15:06:38