SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA / RankWire.AI / – According to Brand Finance’s latest technology ranking, Samsung Group’s brand value rose to US$97.4 billion in 2026. The overall valuation grew by 8.9%, up from US$89.4 billion in 2025. Samsung secured the eighth spot among the world’s most valuable tech brands, dropping one position compared to the previous year. It remains the sole South Korean brand in the top 10 globally, maintaining its position among the leading names in international technology markets.
The aggregate value of the top 100 technology brands increased by 15% to US$3.7 trillion, up from US$3.2 trillion a year earlier. Leading the rankings were Apple, Microsoft, and Google, holding the top three positions. Nvidia advanced to fifth place after its brand value more than doubled to US$184.3 billion, which contributed to Samsung’s slight drop despite a higher valuation. US-based companies continued to dominate the overall value of the ranking.
South Korea features five tech brands in the global list, with their combined brand worth reaching US$135.3 billion, reflecting an 8% rise from 2025. This placed South Korea third after the US and China. SK hynix was ranked 28th with a brand value of US$15.8 billion. LG came in at 44th with US$9.6 billion, Coupang reached US$8.8 billion, and Naver was positioned at 95th with US$3.7 billion.
Semiconductor Sector Bolsters Samsung’s Brand Value
Brand Finance highlighted Samsung’s leadership in memory chips and semiconductors as a key factor behind its brand value growth. The report also pointed out the increasing demand for advanced memory solutions. Samsung’s operations span smartphones, televisions, home appliances, semiconductors, and digital services, giving it a diverse presence in both consumer and corporate technology markets. The US$97.4 billion valuation reflects the economic worth of the brand itself, not the company’s market capitalization, annual revenue, or physical assets.
The valuation is determined using a royalty relief approach, which assesses marketing efforts, customer perceptions, and business performance to assign a brand strength score. Analysts then apply a royalty rate to forecasted brand-related revenue and discount the after-tax earnings to arrive at a present value. This methodology aligns with the ISO 10668 standard for monetary brand valuation, estimating potential licensing income from the brand via an open-market agreement.
Concentration Persists in Global Tech Rankings
Seven of the top 10 positions in the broader Global 500 ranking were held by technology firms. Apple maintained its position as the most valuable brand worldwide, with Microsoft ranking second. The Technology 100 also experienced significant growth among chipmakers and AI infrastructure companies, led by Nvidia. Following Nvidia were Broadcom and AMD, among the fastest-growing brands in tech. Collectively, Apple, Microsoft, Google, and Amazon accounted for nearly 70% of the total value of the Technology 100.
Samsung’s valuation of US$97.4 billion accounted for approximately 72% of the combined worth of South Korea’s five ranked technology brands. These brands—SK hynix, LG, Coupang, and Naver—had a total of US$37.9 billion. Despite a slight decline in its global ranking position by one place, Samsung’s eighth-place standing remained the primary contributor to South Korea’s third-place national ranking. The 2026 figures also reflect another yearly increase in Samsung’s brand value, even as its global position slipped by one rank.