Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra tipped to cost significantly higher than iPhone 16 Pro Max ^↺

Samsung is getting ready to introduce its new Galaxy S25 series, with the potential launch set for January 2025. The new lineup will initially introduce three phones, and the rumored Slim model is expected to debut later in 2025. Among the first three smartphones, the Ultra is tipped to cost more than its predecessor.

This info comes from a Weibo tipster who goes by Setsuna Digital. The tipster says that the manufacturing cost of the Galaxy S25 Ultra is at least $110 more than its predecessor. If this leak holds true, the increased bill of materials (BoM) will eventually bump up the retail price of the smartphone.

To look back, the Galaxy S24 Ultra launched with a starting price of $1,299. With the tipped increased bill of materials, it's possible that the upcoming successor could start at around $1,500. To compare, the iPhone 16 Pro Max starts at $1,199, while the Google Pixel 9 Pro XL starts at $1,099 (128 GB Pixel 9 curr. $701.95 on Amazon).

Another thing to note is that almost all the Snapdragon 8 Elite smartphones have seen a price hike when compared to their predecessors. So, it won't be surprising to see Samsung bumping up the starting price of the upcoming Galaxy S25 series, as the whole lineup is expected to be sold with the new Qualcomm SoC in all regions.

Of course, Samsung was previously rumored to employ cost-cutting measures for the Galaxy S25 series, especially in terms of the screen. However, that won't likely be applicable to the S25 Ultra, as the Ultra model in the S-series lineup is generally the one to feature a class-leading display.