France price leaks put Galaxy S26 under 'Samsung tax' spotlight

French pricing leaks for the Galaxy S26 lineup ahead of a Feb. 25 launch show the S26 at €999 for 256GB and €1,199 for 512GB; the S26 Plus is €1,269 (256GB) and €1,469 (512GB); the S26 Ultra starts at €1,469 for 256GB and rises to €1,969 for 1TB. These figures suggest €80–€180 increases over the S25 in some configurations and align with other European leaks (Sweden, Bulgaria). The increases are attributed to higher memory chip costs amid AI demand, while US pricing remains uncertain and market-by-market variations are likely.