Samsung is changing prices in two ways in India. Starting May 1st, the Galaxy M and F lines will cost 1,000 rupees more for each version, and at the same time, the Galaxy S26 series is now cheaper by as much as 9,000 rupees for a short period. This combined approach could quickly move people towards buying more expensive phones.
This change is aimed at both types of Samsung customers at a key time for those looking for a good deal. The older, cheaper and mid-range phones are going up in price, while the newest top-of-the-line and higher mid-range phones are becoming more affordable until May 27th.
Price hikes across Galaxy M and F lines
Samsung has raised the price of a number of M and F phones by a standard 1,000 rupees each, on top of what they already sell for. These phones were already more expensive than when they first came out, so the total price increase is pretty significant.
Here are the most consequential changes from launch prices and where they stand now:
– Galaxy M36 5G now Rs 21,999, up Rs 5,500 from launch
– Galaxy F36 5G now Rs 21,999, up Rs 5,500 from launch
– Galaxy M17 5G now Rs 16,999, up Rs 4,500 from launch
– Galaxy M17e now Rs 15,499, up Rs 1,500 from launch
– Galaxy F70e 5G now Rs 15,499, up Rs 1,500 from launch
– Galaxy M06 5G now Rs 12,499, up Rs 1,000 from launch
– Galaxy F06 5G now Rs 12,499, up Rs 3,000 from launch
Notable jumps from launch prices
The Galaxy M36 and Galaxy F36 show this change very clearly. They both originally cost 16,499 rupees (including a 1,000 rupee discount with certain banks) and now cost from 21,999 rupees. That’s a 5,500 rupee (or 33%) increase, and nothing about the phones themselves has changed.
The M06 and F06 now costing between 12,000 and 13,000 rupees reflects a more general change in the market. Cheap 5G phones that used to be under 10,000 rupees are now well above that price, because of the cost of the memory and the computer chip inside. Realme and OnePlus have done similar things this week.
Limited-time deals on Galaxy S26 series
Meanwhile, Samsung’s newest flagship phones are getting their first large price reductions. According to Amazon and information from Abhishek Yadav, the Galaxy S26 range has discounts of up to 9,000 rupees depending on the model, and these offers are only good until May 27th.
Some specific models have even bigger discounts. The Samsung Galaxy S26 with 12GB of RAM and 256GB or 512GB of storage has a 10,000 rupee discount. And the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra is 9,000 rupees cheaper across all versions: 12GB RAM with 256GB or 512GB of storage, and also the 16GB RAM with 1TB option.
What buyers can expect till May 27
Samsung says the discounts include the Galaxy S26 series and also the recent Galaxy A models – specifically the Galaxy A37 and Galaxy A57. This means the best value is with the newer phones, while the older, cheaper phones are getting more expensive.
If you’re thinking of getting a new phone, you don’t have long. These deals listed are only expected to last until May 27th.
Why this pricing shuffle matters now
This combined price change looks like it’s meant to encourage people to buy the newer A and S series phones, while still making a profit on the older M and F phones in the warehouse. For people who don’t have much money to spend, the price increases reduce the number of options. But for those wanting to spend more, the S26 deals make it easier to be persuaded to switch.
Here is what this means in practice:
– Expect firmer pricing on entry 5G phones
– Watch for faster inventory rotation on S26 models
– Check bank offers stacked with limited-time cuts
What comes next
If costs don’t go down, the cheaper phone market could stay at this new, higher price level. The temporary discounts on the flagship phones, which end on May 27th, are the unpredictable element. They might get more people to upgrade right now, but the true test will be whether other companies match the discounts or focus even more on value in the next few weeks.
