Unihertz solved what Samsung and Google can't

Rising component prices are here to stay in 2026. It's unavoidable, and companies are having to decide between providing meaningful upgrades to appease buyers or keeping price points the same, at the cost of desired improvements.

I never thought a keyboard phone from a smaller company would provide the answer to help buyers through the crisis — but that's precisely what Unihertz has done with the upcoming Titan 2 Elite.

The company offers a nifty solution to a complex problem, but it may not be a one-size-fits-all answer.

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By  Stephen Radochia

We've already seen the effects

Galaxy S26 and Pixel 10a buyers had to choose

We didn't make it deep into 2026 without seeing two glaring examples of rising component prices.

Samsung opted to pass the additional cost onto buyers, giving phones like the Galaxy S26 a new chipset, a larger display, and a bigger battery, but charging another $100 for the privilege.

Samsung won't be the only company affected by the end of 2026.

Meanwhile, Google had an entirely different solution with the Pixel 10a. Instead of upgrading the device to a Tensor G5 chipset or adding more RAM, Google prioritized price, keeping the phone at $500.

This resulted in only modest improvements over the outgoing Pixel 9a, leading many to wonder whether it was better to buy the previous generation at a discount.

Both philosophies are unsatisfactory for buyers, as it feels we pay one way or the other. However, Unihertz has a different idea.

The Titan 2 Elite adds flexibility

Buyers can pick their chipset

Unihertz announced that Titan 2 Elite buyers will have a choice between the Dimensity 7400 and 8400 chipsets.

On the surface, that doesn't seem like an Earth-shattering development, but it makes a lot of sense. It's a way for buyers to choose in their own best interests, saving money if they want.

We always seemed shoehorned into a chipset, and whether we need more or less power is irrelevant.

For the Titan 2 Elite, if your goal is email, communications, and web browsing, the Dimensity 7400 will do the job. If you plan to use your phone for longer or for more intense apps, the Dimensity 8400 is available. It's an elegant solution.

I complained about the price increase on the Galaxy S26. But what if you could buy one with a Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 instead, saving over $100?

If you're just looking for a compact flagship at a reasonable price, you might jump at it. And I know that with those options, I would highly recommend a Galaxy S26.

The same can be said for the Pixel 10a. Google could sell a version with the Tensor G5 chipset for those who want more power at a higher price, while the rest of us can enjoy the Tensor G4 without issue and the original $500 starting price.

You see it all the time with laptops and other products. Unfortunately, it won't be a clean solution for every manufacturer.

Giving buyers that flexibility has costs

Companies would need to change their inventory

As much as I'd love to see it, I doubt we'll get a choice of chipsets anytime soon.

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Unihertz is a smaller company, and the Titan 2 Elite is a niche product. When you're dealing with a limited number of units sold, you can keep a just-in-time product chain going, with quick shifts as different configurations are ordered.

Samsung and Google don't have that luxury. They would need to completely change the way they manufacture devices, with much more market research to determine how many of each chipset and in which configurations they'd sell.

Even though we'd benefit as buyers in the end, the incentive really isn't there for large manufacturers.

That doesn't mean I don't want to see more of it from smaller companies, and Unihertz is on to something, but I doubt we'll see a Galaxy S27 with a choice of chipsets any time soon.

Look for more inventive solutions throughout 2026

Companies will experiment more and more over time. I don't see RAM shortages easing anytime soon, and rising component prices will be a theme in 2026.

I love that I can choose which chipset to put into my Titan 2 Elite, but I wouldn't hold my breath for Google and Samsung to follow suit.