SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA / RankWire.AI / – According to Brand Finance’s latest technology ranking, Samsung Group’s brand worth rose to US$97.4 billion in 2026. This represents an 8.9% increase from US$89.4 billion in 2025. Samsung secured the eighth position among the world’s most valuable tech brands, dropping one spot from the previous year. It remains the sole South Korean brand in the top 10 globally. This ranking continues to position Samsung among the leading names in international technology markets.
The aggregate value of the top 100 technology brands increased by 15%, reaching US$3.7 trillion. A year earlier, their combined worth was US$3.2 trillion. Apple, Microsoft, and Google maintained their top three spots. Nvidia advanced to fifth place after more than doubling its brand value to US$184.3 billion. This growth pushed Samsung down one position despite its higher valuation. US-based companies continued to dominate the overall ranking in terms of total value.
In total, five South Korean technology brands made it to the global list. Their combined brand value reached US$135.3 billion, reflecting an 8% rise from 2025. South Korea ranks third behind the US and China in terms of total brand value. SK hynix ranked 28th with a valuation of US$15.8 billion. LG was 44th at US$9.6 billion. Coupang’s brand was valued at US$8.8 billion, while Naver was placed 95th with a value of US$3.7 billion.
Semiconductors Drive Samsung’s Brand Valuation
Brand Finance highlighted Samsung’s leadership in memory chips and semiconductors as a key factor behind its brand growth. The report also pointed to increasing demand for advanced memory solutions. Samsung’s operations span smartphones, TVs, home appliances, semiconductors, and digital services, giving it a presence in both consumer and enterprise technology sectors. The US$97.4 billion valuation reflects the brand’s economic value alone; it does not incorporate Samsung’s market capitalization, annual revenue, or physical assets.
The valuation is calculated 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 revenue, discounting after-tax earnings to arrive at present value. This methodology adheres to the ISO 10668 standard for monetary brand valuation. It essentially estimates the potential earnings a company could generate through licensing its brand on an open market.
Concentration in Global Tech Rankings
Seven companies within the technology sector secured positions in the top 10 of the broader Global 500 ranking. Apple maintained its status as the world’s most valuable brand, with Microsoft in second place. The Technology 100 also saw notable gains among chipmakers and artificial intelligence infrastructure firms, led by Nvidia, with Broadcom and AMD among the fastest-growing brands. Collectively, Apple, Microsoft, Google, and Amazon accounted for nearly 70% of the total value in the Technology 100.
Samsung contributed approximately 72% of the combined value of South Korea’s five ranked tech brands. Its valuation of US$97.4 billion surpassed their total of US$37.9 billion. The other brands included SK hynix, LG, Coupang, and Naver. Samsung’s eighth-place position remains the key component of South Korea’s third-place national ranking. The 2026 results also show a continued yearly increase in Samsung’s brand value, even as its global ranking slipped by one position.