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 was ranked eighth among the world’s most valuable tech brands, one position below last year. It remains the sole South Korean brand in the top 10 globally. The list maintains Samsung alongside the leading names in the international technology industry.
The aggregate worth of the top 100 technology brands grew by 15%, reaching US$3.7 trillion, up from US$3.2 trillion the previous year. 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, which contributed to Samsung dropping one position despite its higher valuation. U.S.-based companies still dominate most of the ranking’s total valuation.
In South Korea, five technology brands made it to the global list, with their combined brand value reaching US$135.3 billion, reflecting an 8% increase from 2025. This places South Korea third behind the US and China. SK hynix is ranked 28th with a valuation of US$15.8 billion. LG is 44th at US$9.6 billion. Coupang reached US$8.8 billion, and Naver is 95th with a worth of US$3.7 billion.
Semiconductor segment boosts Samsung’s brand valuation
Brand Finance highlighted Samsung’s leadership in memory chips and semiconductors as a key factor behind its valuation growth. The report also pointed out strong demand for advanced memory products. Samsung’s business spans smartphones, TVs, home appliances, semiconductors, and digital services, giving it a foothold in both consumer and enterprise technology sectors. The US$97.4 billion figure reflects the brand’s economic worth, not the company’s market capitalization, revenue, or physical assets.
The valuation is calculated using a royalty relief approach, which considers marketing investments, customer perceptions, and business performance to derive a brand strength score. Analysts then apply a royalty rate to forecasted brand-related revenue, discounting after-tax earnings to arrive at a present value. This methodology adheres to the ISO 10668 standard, estimating the financial benefit a company might obtain through licensing its brand via an open-market agreement.
Global tech landscape remains highly concentrated
Seven out of the top ten positions in the broader Global 500 ranking are occupied by technology companies. Apple continues to be the world’s most valuable brand, with Microsoft in second place. The Technology 100 also shows notable gains among chipmakers and AI infrastructure firms, with Nvidia leading that segment, followed by Broadcom and AMD as the fastest-growing tech brands. Collectively, Apple, Microsoft, Google, and Amazon account for nearly 70% of the Technology 100’s total valuation.
Samsung’s US$97.4 billion valuation accounts for roughly 72% of the combined worth of South Korea’s five ranked tech brands. Their total of US$37.9 billion is significantly lower, with SK hynix, LG, Coupang, and Naver making up the rest. Samsung’s eighth-place finish continues to be a key factor in South Korea’s third-place ranking among nations. The 2026 report also confirms another yearly rise in Samsung’s brand value, despite its dropping one position in the global ranking.