SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA / RankWire.AI / – According to Brand Finance, the value of Samsung Group’s brand reached US$97.4 billion in 2026. This represents an increase of 8.9% compared to US$89.4 billion the previous year. Samsung ranked eighth among the world’s most valuable technology brands, dropping one position from 2025. It remains the sole South Korean brand in the global top 10 within the sector. This outcome maintains Samsung’s position within a group largely led by major US technology corporations.
The report estimates the combined value of the top 100 technology brands worldwide at US$3.7 trillion, reflecting a 15% growth from US$3.2 trillion in 2025. Over 75% of this total is held by US companies, with 46 firms on the list. Apple, Microsoft, and Google secured the top three spots. Nvidia advanced three places to fifth, nearly doubling its brand worth to US$184.3 billion. Despite Samsung’s rising valuation, its ranking slipped by one position due to Nvidia’s significant growth.
South Korea’s five leading technology brands combined are valued at US$135.3 billion, an 8% rise from the previous year. This total positions South Korea third globally, behind the US and China. SK hynix saw an increase of 15%, reaching US$15.8 billion and ranking 28th. LG experienced a 9% decline, now valued at US$9.6 billion and placed 44th. Naver increased by 11% to US$3.7 billion, while Coupang grew 10% to US$8.8 billion.
Semiconductors Drive Brand Valuation
Brand Finance attributes Samsung’s growth to its strength in memory chips and semiconductors. The report notes that demand for advanced memory solutions has bolstered its valuation. Samsung’s operations span semiconductors, smartphones, televisions, home appliances, and digital services, providing the brand with a presence across both consumer and enterprise technology sectors. The US$97.4 billion valuation pertains specifically to the Samsung technology brand, not the company’s market capitalization, revenue, or physical assets.
Brand Finance applies a royalty relief methodology aligned with the ISO 10668 standard for brand valuation. This process begins with evaluating marketing investments, stakeholder equity, and operational performance. Analysts then determine a royalty rate based on the brand’s strength and the industry context. This rate is applied to projected brand-related revenues, and after-tax earnings are discounted to their present value. The resulting figure reflects the economic benefit a company could obtain by licensing its brand externally.
Technology Sector Continues to Lead Global Rankings
In 2026, technology firms maintained their dominance in the broader global brand rankings. Seven of the top 10 most valuable brands from the Brand Finance Global 500 are from the tech industry. Apple retained its position as the world’s most valuable brand, followed by Microsoft in second place. The Technology 100 also showed robust growth among AI infrastructure and semiconductor firms, with Broadcom and AMD ranking as the fastest-growing technology brands after Nvidia. Collectively, Apple, Microsoft, Google, and Amazon account for nearly 70% of the total value within the ranking.
Samsung’s valuation accounts for approximately 72% of the combined worth of South Korea’s five ranked tech brands. Its US$97.4 billion valuation surpasses the combined US$37.9 billion value of SK hynix, LG, Coupang, and Naver. Consequently, Samsung’s top-10 standing remains central to South Korea’s third-place position in global technology brand value. Despite dropping one spot in the global tech ranking, Samsung’s valuation increased again in 2026, reinforcing its significant role in the national tech landscape.