The Galaxy S9 may be approximately $140 costlier in certain European markets, TechRadar reports, citing a source from the smartphone industry in the United Kingdom. British consumers can expect the smaller Galaxy S9 to start at £789 ($1,114), £100 more than the Galaxy S8, according to the insider. No details for the larger Galaxy S9 Plus have been provided, though the handset is likely to be treated to a similar price hike and start at approximately £889 ($1,255). The report is in line with recent rumors about Samsung’s upcoming flagship duo being its most expensive one to date, with the South Korean original equipment manufacturer reportedly planning price increases on a global level. Based on the previously leaked information and the newly provided one, the 5.8-inch Galaxy S9 may start at around $850 in the United States, whereas the 6.2-inch Galaxy S9 Plus could surpass the $1,000 mark.
It’s presently unclear whether Samsung will attempt to justify the price increase if one ends up happening, especially in the context of the Galaxy S9 that’s expected to be extremely similar to its predecessor, with its only two major improvements being a new system-on-chip and a camera with a variable aperture, albeit one that still relies on a 12-megapixel sensor of a comparable pixel size. It’s possible that the Seoul-based tech giant is simply testing the market response and is prepared to drop the price of its upcoming Android flagship series if its pre-order period doesn’t end up being as successful as the one of the Galaxy S8 lineup. Despite consistent price increases, Samsung’s Galaxy S-branded devices remain the most successful Android smartphones in the world, with tens of millions of units being sold on an annual basis.
The larger Galaxy S9 Plus is said to be more worthy of a higher price tag, with its base model being rumored to start at 6GB of RAM and 128GB of internal flash memory, in addition to featuring a dual-camera setup using the same variable-aperture lens found on the Galaxy S9 but also an extra 12-megapixel sensor mounted behind fixed-aperture glass. The two Android 8.0 Oreo-powered smartphones are scheduled to be officially announced on February 25 and should begin retailing in mid-March.