With just two weeks to go until the Galaxy S23 goes on sale, rumors and leaks have accelerated quickly. The report states that Samsung's new flagship is expected to increase in price by more than $100.

As reported by 9to5Google (opens in new tab), Samsung is said to be planning a price hike for the Galaxy S in Australia. So while there is no confirmation of a price increase in the US, UK, or EU, it is not too far-fetched to assume that Samsung may consider the same move in other parts of the world.

According to the report, the base 128GB model of the Galaxy S23 will be priced at A$1,350, with additional storage increasing the price by $100. The Galaxy S23 Plus will start at AUS$1,650 and the Galaxy S23 Ultra at AUS$1,950. [For reference, the Galaxy S22 starts at AUS$1,249, the Galaxy S22 Plus at AUS$1,549, and the Galaxy S22 Ultra at AUS$1,849. As you can see, 9to5Google reports a $100 price increase across the board.

For reference, the Galaxy S22's price in the US was $799 when the series of phones was first introduced a year ago. A $100 price increase in the US would result in the Galaxy S23 at $899, the Galaxy S23 Plus starting at $1,099, and the Galaxy S23 Ultra at $1,299.

However, it is still unclear what Samsung will price the Galaxy S23 at. Since Apple has priced the iPhone 14 the same as the iPhone 13, it is quite possible that Samsung will not touch the price in either country; making the Galaxy S23 series more expensive would not give potential buyers much confidence.

If Samsung decides to raise the price of the Galaxy S23, it will lose its footing. With many consumers saving money and keeping their devices longer and choosing to upgrade to a less expensive device when they choose to upgrade, it would certainly be a tone-deaf decision on Samsung's part to raise the price.

We are reminded of the Galaxy S20, which was a flop partly due to Samsung's ludicrous pricing, starting at a whopping $999 for the base model Galaxy S20. The Korean handset maker seems to have learned its lesson with the Galaxy S21, dropping the price by $200 for all three variants.

While costs are rising for manufacturers, the cost of living for regular smartphone buyers is also rising. That equates to less disposable income and probably means fewer sales of the more expensive Galaxy S23.

Whether Samsung has lost touch with its target market will be known at the Unpacked event on February 1. For now, check the Galaxy S23 hub and the Galaxy S23 Ultra hub for the latest news.