The Galaxy S26 Series Are Cheaper Than Apple’s Budget iPhone 17e If You Buy From Samsung’s Official Website
Publish Date: 2026-03-06 07:10:00
Source Domain: kotaku.com
Samsung held its annual Unpacked event last week and introduced a fresh wave of Galaxy devices for 2026. Alongside updates to its audio lineup with the Galaxy Buds 4 and Galaxy Buds 4 Pro, the company officially revealed its latest flagship smartphones: the Galaxy S26, Galaxy S26+, and Galaxy S26 Ultra. Pre-orders for all three models are now open through major retailers, though Samsung is pushing several incentives for customers who purchase directly from its own website.
The biggest promotion centers on Samsung’s trade-in program. Customers who pre-order an S26 series device through Samsung can receive up to $900 in trade-in credit when they send in an eligible older smartphone. The exact value depends on the device being exchanged, but high-end recent models can significantly offset the cost of upgrading. In many cases, the credit removes a large portion of the retail price, making the newest Galaxy phones far more accessible for longtime Samsung users ready to replace an aging handset.
Samsung has also accounted for buyers who don’t have a suitable trade-in available. Pre-orders placed without a device exchange still qualify for a $150 Samsung credit. That credit does not reduce the phone’s purchase price directly, but it can be applied toward other products in Samsung’s ecosystem when added to the same order. For anyone already considering some accessories, the credit effectively lowers the cost of expanding their Galaxy setup.
One use for the credit sure to be popular is towards Samsung’s newly announced Galaxy Buds 4. The wireless earbuds are already discounted to $162 on Samsung’s website, meaning the $150 credit leaves just $12 remaining to pay.
See S26 Ultra at Samsung
New to the S26 Lineup
Hardware changes across the Galaxy S26 lineup remain relatively modest this year. Battery sizes remain consistent with the previous generation, storage configurations carry over, and Samsung continues to rely on the same…
