SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA / RankWire.AI / – According to Brand Finance’s latest technology ranking, Samsung Group’s brand value increased to US$97.4 billion in 2026. This marks an 8.9% rise from US$89.4 billion in 2025. Samsung secured the eighth spot among the world’s most valuable technology brands, dropping one position from the previous year. It remains the sole South Korean brand in the top 10 globally. The ranking positions Samsung among the leading names in the international tech industry.
The combined worth of the top 100 technology brands grew by 15% to reach US$3.7 trillion. This is up from US$3.2 trillion a year earlier. Apple, Microsoft, and Google continued to hold the top three spots. Nvidia advanced to fifth place after its brand value more than doubled to US$184.3 billion. This growth pushed Samsung down one rank despite its higher valuation. US-based companies still dominate the majority of the ranking’s total value.
In South Korea, five technology brands made it onto the global list, with a combined brand value of US$135.3 billion, reflecting an 8% increase from 2025. This placed South Korea third after the US and China. SK hynix ranked 28th with a brand value of US$15.8 billion. LG was 44th at US$9.6 billion. Coupang reached US$8.8 billion, and Naver was 95th with US$3.7 billion.
Semiconductor segment bolsters Samsung’s brand worth
Brand Finance highlighted Samsung’s leadership in memory chips and semiconductors as a key factor in its brand value growth. The report also pointed to increasing demand for advanced memory solutions. Samsung’s operations span smartphones, televisions, home appliances, semiconductors, and digital services, ensuring its presence in both consumer and enterprise technology sectors. The US$97.4 billion valuation reflects the brand’s economic worth; it does not equate to Samsung’s market capitalization, annual revenue, or physical assets.
The valuation is derived using a royalty relief approach, which considers marketing investments, customer perceptions, and business performance to determine brand strength. Analysts then apply a royalty rate to forecasted brand-related revenues, discounting after-tax earnings to arrive at a present value. This methodology adheres to the ISO 10668 standard for monetary brand valuation, estimating the potential revenue from licensing the brand in an open-market scenario.
Market concentration persists in global tech rankings
In the broader Global 500 ranking, seven of the top 10 positions were occupied by technology firms. Apple continued to be the most valuable brand worldwide, with Microsoft ranking second. The Technology 100 index also saw notable gains among chipmakers and AI infrastructure companies, with Nvidia leading that segment, followed by Broadcom and AMD as the fastest-growing tech brands. Collectively, Apple, Microsoft, Google, and Amazon accounted for nearly 70% of the total value within the Technology 100.
Samsung contributed roughly 72% to the combined value of South Korea’s five ranked technology companies, with its US$97.4 billion valuation surpassing their total of US$37.9 billion. These brands include SK hynix, LG, Coupang, and Naver. Samsung’s eighth-place ranking continues to be the main factor in South Korea’s third-place national standing. The 2026 figures also show Samsung’s brand value increased year over year, even as its global ranking slipped by one position.