Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra 256GB
Samsung's flagship Galaxy S26 Ultra smartphone in the 256GB storage configuration. The UK model is identified by model-family code SM-S948B, with colour-specific variants including SM-S948BZKDEUB (Black) and SM-S948BZWDEUB (White). Samsung announced the Galaxy S26 series on February 25, 2026, with the 256GB Ultra carrying a UK launch RRP of £1,279.
UK retail price
£1,129.00
Verified today.
Estimated landed cost
£444.00
Modelled manufacturing and landed-cost estimate.
Price comparison
Retail vs estimated landed cost
Cost share
39%
of retail price
Retail multiple
2.5×
Retail price divided by estimated landed cost.
Difference
£685.00
Not profit. Other costs sit between landed cost and retail.
Confidence
89%
Evidence and modelling confidence.
Last analysed
today
Retail price checked today.
Price history
UK retail price trend
Verified retail-price checks recorded by TrueCost over time.
Last checked today
Latest
£1,129.00
Lowest recorded
£1,129.00
Highest recorded
£1,129.00
View individual price checks
1 recorded price checks
↓
View individual price checks
1 recorded price checks
Currys Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra 256GB Black
Cost model
What makes up the estimated cost?
TrueCost models the major components, manufacturing, assembly, packaging and landed costs required to produce the product.
6.9-inch QHD+ LTPO AMOLED display with integrated privacy-display technology
DisplayIncludes the large high-resolution adaptive-refresh AMOLED panel, cover glass, touch layer, display driver and privacy-viewing-angle hardware. The privacy feature and flagship brightness increase cost relative to a conventional OLED panel.
£95.00
21.4%
Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy, 12GB LPDDR5X RAM and 256GB UFS storage
Processor and memoryRepresents the flagship 3nm application processor, 12GB mobile memory and 256GB NAND/UFS storage, including package and procurement premiums. Exact Samsung and Qualcomm transfer prices are not publicly disclosed.
£95.00
21.4%
Rear and front camera modules
CamerasCovers the 200MP main camera, 50MP ultra-wide, 50MP 5x telephoto, 10MP telephoto and 12MP front camera, including lenses, sensors, autofocus and optical-stabilisation hardware.
£65.00
14.6%
Main logic board, RF, 5G modem, Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth, NFC and USB-C electronics
ElectronicsIncludes the multilayer motherboard, power-management ICs, RF transceiver and amplifiers, antennas, connectivity chips, SIM/eSIM circuitry and USB-C interface components.
£48.00
10.8%
5,000mAh lithium-ion battery and charging/power-management hardware
Power systemIncludes the battery cell and pack, protection circuitry, charging ICs and thermal interfaces. The supplied 5,000mAh specification supports this estimate.
£18.00
4.1%
Armor Aluminum frame, rear glass, Gorilla Armor 2 front glass and structural parts
Mechanical componentsCovers the machined or formed aluminum chassis, strengthened glass panels, internal brackets, seals and adhesives. Premium glass and IP68 sealing add cost.
£38.00
8.6%
Integrated S Pen assembly
Input hardwareIncludes the stylus, digitiser-related components, spring or retention mechanism and isolated internal housing.
£8.00
1.8%
Speakers, microphones, haptic motor, sensors, vapor chamber and miscellaneous modules
Supporting hardwareIncludes the larger vapor chamber noted in teardown reporting, audio modules, vibration motor, biometric and environmental sensors, buttons, cable assemblies and small mechanical parts.
£20.00
4.5%
Assembly, calibration, software loading and end-of-line testing
Assembly and manufacturing processEstimated direct Vietnam factory labor and production processes, including board and module assembly, sealing, camera/display calibration, functional testing and quality control.
£22.00
5.0%
Retail box, data cable, SIM-ejection pin, documentation and internal protective materials
PackagingMatches the supplied box contents and excludes a charger, which is sold separately.
£7.00
1.6%
Factory production overhead directly attributable to the unit
Factory overheadAllocation for production-line depreciation, utilities, clean-room and testing infrastructure, quality operations and manufacturing support directly associated with handset production.
£18.00
4.1%
Vietnam-to-UK freight, insurance and distribution handling
LogisticsEstimated ocean or consolidated air freight, cargo insurance, export handling and inbound distribution to the UK. This excludes retailer warehousing and margin.
£10.00
2.3%
UK import duty
Import dutiesAssumed zero customs duty for the applicable smartphone tariff classification; import VAT is excluded because it is generally recoverable by a registered business.
£0.00
0.0%
More detail
Explore the analysis
Open any section below to see more about the evidence, methodology and assumptions behind this estimate.
Estimated cost range
£430.00 – £610.00
↓
Estimated cost range
£430.00 – £610.00
The central TrueCost estimate is a modelled value. The plausible range reflects uncertainty in component pricing, manufacturing, assembly, freight and other landed-cost assumptions.
Analysis freshness
Fresh · Full analysis today
↓
Analysis freshness
Fresh · Full analysis today
6 Sept 2026 · today
6 Sept 2026 · today
Retail prices are rechecked after 30 days when the product is requested. The full manufacturing and landed-cost analysis is refreshed after 180 days.
Evidence quality
9 research sources · 89% confidence
↓
Evidence quality
9 research sources · 89% confidence
Research sources
9 sources used
↓
Research sources
9 sources used
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra official UK product page
Confirms the Galaxy S26 Ultra product, Armor Aluminum frame, Corning Gorilla Armor 2 front glass, Gorilla Glass Victus 2 rear glass, Privacy Display, S Pen and IP68 rating.
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra official UK specifications
Confirms that the Ultra is offered in 256GB, 512GB and 1TB configurations and lists official colour options.
Samsung UK Galaxy S26 series launch announcement
Confirms the February 25, 2026 announcement, Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 Mobile Platform for Galaxy, redesigned thermal management, Super Fast Charging 3.0 and UK storage-promotion details.
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra Product Environmental Report
Discloses more than 17.7% recycled content, recycled material details, and a life-cycle boundary describing product assembly by Samsung Electronics and distribution from Vietnam to Europe.
Samsung Galaxy S26 series recycled-materials disclosure
Provides material-specific recycled-content information for plastic, aluminium, glass, rare-earth elements, steel, copper, gold, cobalt, lithium and tantalum.
Currys Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra 256GB Black
Lists the SIM-free 256GB model at £1,129, reduced from £1,279, and confirms the 6.9-inch display, camera configuration and 5,000mAh battery.
O2 Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra specifications
Provides dimensions, weight, display resolution, camera specifications, chipset, storage, RAM, connectivity, battery and operating-system details.
iFixit Galaxy S26 Ultra teardown
Official iFixit teardown covering the display, back glass, battery, USB-C port, cameras, mainboard, S Pen and repairability; it reports a 5/10 repairability score.
Android Authority report on Galaxy S26 Ultra teardown
Summarises the ALOP telephoto-camera design, approximately 15% larger vapor chamber, accessible battery, modular USB-C port and isolated S Pen slot.
Model assumptions
6 assumptions
↓
Model assumptions
6 assumptions
- The supplied £1,129 figure is treated as the current UK SIM-free retail price; the reported launch RRP was £1,279.
- Costs are estimated in GBP using an approximate 2026 manufacturing exchange-rate basis and normal Samsung-scale procurement pricing.
- The phone is assumed to be assembled in Vietnam for European distribution, consistent with Samsung's environmental report.
- UK import duty is estimated at £0 for this smartphone category; recoverable import VAT is excluded from landed cost.
- The 256GB model is assumed to use 12GB RAM, with no charger included in the box.
- Cost ranges reflect uncertainty in negotiated semiconductor pricing, display yield, camera-module pricing, internal transfer pricing and factory overhead allocation.