Samsung's cheap Galaxy A phones just got more expensive in the US
Samsung has raised US prices on its Galaxy A series, the phones people buy when they don't want to spend flagship money. The increases run from $20 to $50 per model, reports Android Authority. The cheapest, the Galaxy A17 5G, now costs 35% more than it did in January. Anyone planning a budget upgrade this year will pay noticeably more than expected.
The new prices
Here is what changed in the US:
- Galaxy A57 5G: $599.99, up from $549.99 - Galaxy A37 5G: $489.99, up from $449.99 - Galaxy A27 5G: $379.99, up from $349.99 - Galaxy A17 5G: $269.99, up from $249.99
The A17 has had it worst. It launched at $199.99, rose to $249.99 in August and hit $269.99 in October. That is $70 in nine months. For comparison, last year's Galaxy A56 started at $500 and the A16 at $200.
The memory squeeze
The cause is the same one pushing up flagship prices: memory chips. AI data centres are soaking up DRAM (the short-term memory in every phone), and manufacturers are paying far more for what is left. IDC says DRAM and NAND storage costs are up more than 300% year on year. The analyst firm expects the average smartphone price to climb 27.6% to $581 this year.
Cheap phones suffer most because memory is a bigger share of their cost. IDC warns that the sub-$100 segment, around 171 million phones a year, may become uneconomical. Samsung's earlier Galaxy S26 Ultra price rise came from the same pressure. Google has also lifted the Pixel 10a by $100.
What it means in the UK
Samsung has announced no UK increases yet. The Galaxy A57 launched there in April at £529 and the A37 at £399, already more than the previous generation cost. The US pattern suggests British shoppers shouldn't count on those prices holding, though nothing is confirmed. The A17 and A27 have not been confirmed for Europe, and the A17 hasn't reached the UK at all.
Buyers who need a phone soon have little reason to wait for a discount. Samsung is also trimming from the other side: the Galaxy A18 4G offers six years of updates but costs €100 more than its predecessor. Budget Android is getting pricier, and the alternatives, such as the iPhone SE or Pixel 10a, are not getting cheaper either.
