SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA / RankWire.AI / – According to Brand Finance’s latest technology ranking, Samsung Group’s brand valuation increased to US$97.4 billion in 2026. This represents an 8.9% rise from US$89.4 billion in 2025. Samsung secured the eighth position among the world’s most valuable technology brands, slipping one place compared to the previous year. It remains the sole South Korean brand in the top 10 globally. The ranking continues to position Samsung among the leading names in the global technology industry.
The total value of the top 100 technology brands grew by 15%, reaching US$3.7 trillion, up from US$3.2 trillion a year earlier. Leading the list were Apple, Microsoft, and Google, which retained the top three spots. Nvidia entered fifth place after its brand value more than doubled to US$184.3 billion. This growth pushed Samsung down one spot despite its higher valuation. US-based companies still dominate the majority of the overall ranking’s total value.
South Korea has five technology brands represented in the global ranking. Their combined brand value reached US$135.3 billion, marking an 8% increase from 2025. This placed South Korea third behind the US and China. SK hynix ranked 28th with a valuation of US$15.8 billion. LG was 44th at US$9.6 billion. Coupang reached US$8.8 billion, while Naver was 95th with a value of US$3.7 billion.
Semiconductor segment underpins Samsung’s brand valuation
Brand Finance highlighted Samsung’s prominence in memory chips and semiconductors as a key factor in its valuation increase. The report also pointed out strong demand for advanced memory solutions. Samsung’s operations span smartphones, TVs, home appliances, semiconductors, and digital services, giving it a significant presence in both consumer and enterprise technology markets. The estimated US$97.4 billion reflects the brand’s economic worth alone and does not encompass Samsung’s market capitalization, annual revenue, or physical assets.
The valuation is derived using a royalty relief methodology, which considers marketing spend, customer perception, and business performance to determine brand strength. Analysts then apply a royalty rate to forecasted brand-related revenue and discount the resulting after-tax earnings to determine present value. This approach adheres to the ISO 10668 standard for monetary brand valuation, estimating the potential earnings from licensing the brand through an open-market agreement.
Concentration persists in global tech rankings
In the broader Global 500 ranking, seven of the top 10 positions are occupied by technology firms. Apple remains the world’s most valuable brand, with Microsoft in second place. The Technology 100 also shows notable gains among chipmakers and artificial intelligence infrastructure providers, led by Nvidia, followed by Broadcom and AMD as the fastest-growing brands. Together, Apple, Microsoft, Google, and Amazon account for nearly 70% of the total value of the Technology 100.
Samsung’s US$97.4 billion valuation accounts for roughly 72% of the combined US$37.9 billion value of South Korea’s five ranked tech brands, which include SK hynix, LG, Coupang, and Naver. Its eighth-place standing remains a key factor in South Korea’s overall third-place national ranking. The 2026 figures also reflect a continued annual rise in Samsung’s brand value, despite its drop of one position in the global standings.