Get Ready for a Pricey Galaxy S26 Ultra!
Samsung's next big thing, the Galaxy S26, is slated for a late February 2026 release, but the company is in a bit of a pickle when it comes to setting the final price for its top-tier smartphones. They're trying to keep prices steady, but the rising costs of memory chips and other essential components are forcing manufacturers to rethink their pricing. This means the cost of your next Samsung flagship might go up!
But here's where it gets interesting for savvy shoppers: Samsung phones tend to lose value pretty quickly after they launch. So, if you're looking to snag a deal, it might be wiser to hold off on pre-ordering and wait for prices to drop. If you're keen on staying updated on all the latest smartphone deals, consider signing up for a newsletter!
Could a Refurbished Galaxy S26 Be Your Best Bet?
Even though the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra has been out for a while, it's still holding onto its full price. Is this a sign of what's to come for the Galaxy S26? Only time will tell!
Smartphones, especially Samsung's Galaxy S line, depreciate quite rapidly after their release. Data from SellCell, a site that compares smartphone resale values, paints a clear picture:
- The Galaxy S23 series saw a depreciation of 49.7% at the six-month mark and 55.5% after a year.
- The Galaxy S24 series depreciated by 47.3% at six months and 49.3% at twelve months.
- The Galaxy S25 series has lost 46.6% of its value in just five months and is currently sitting at 54.2% depreciation after eleven months.
This 11-month figure is based on the average depreciation of 'mint' condition Galaxy S25 phones across all storage sizes, according to SellCell's live data. So, what does this mean for those eyeing the Galaxy S26? While the phone will undoubtedly be at its absolute cheapest just before the Galaxy S27 arrives, there's surprisingly little difference in how much value is lost between the six-month and twelve-month marks.
And this is the part most people miss: Waiting about six months after launch seems to offer a sweet spot – you get the latest technology without paying the premium launch price. However, it's important to understand that these percentages represent the trade-in value, not the retail price. The price buyback companies offer is the absolute minimum the phone is worth.
If you decide to buy a refurbished Galaxy S26 Ultra later in the year, expect to pay a bit more, typically a 20% to 30% markup on those depreciation figures. For instance, a refurbished 256GB Galaxy S25 Ultra might cost around $819, which is about 34% more than its current trade-in value of $608. Buying from a private seller on platforms like eBay might put the price between $700 and $750.
My advice for deal seekers? To sidestep the potential price hike for the Galaxy S26, consider waiting six months and purchasing a refurbished device from a reputable seller that uses genuine parts.
What About Samsung Galaxy S26 Deals and Promotions?
Reports suggest Samsung might be considering a price increase of approximately $31 to $62 per model for the Galaxy S26 series, largely due to component shortages. While this might not sound like a huge jump, the real blow could be to the generous promotions that usually slash hundreds off the price. There's even talk that Samsung might ditch its popular double-storage pre-order deal, which typically allowed customers to get double the storage for free.
Samsung offered plenty of free storage upgrades and other incentives for the Galaxy S25 throughout 2025. But with memory costs on the rise, don't anticipate such lucrative deals if supply costs continue to climb. A Samsung flagship under $900 with the second-highest storage option was a fantastic deal, and it's unlikely Samsung will repeat it if memory costs remain high. Even the Galaxy S25 is currently selling at full price on Samsung's website with minimal offers, mostly just free software trials.
If 2026 is indeed a year of fewer eye-catching deals, your best strategy for saving money on the Galaxy S26 is simply to wait before making your purchase.
Update January 27th: Samsung Launches a New Galaxy S25 Ultra Deal
Samsung is currently running a new set of discounts for the Galaxy S25 series, and the nature of these promotions offers a glimpse into what we might expect for future S26 deals. The Galaxy S25 Ultra 1TB model in the U.K. has seen a direct price reduction, now priced at £1,349 (approximately $1856), down from £1,549 (approximately $2131). Notably, other models haven't received similar direct price cuts. This isn't a double-storage offer but a straightforward discount on Samsung's most premium S25 option, which likely doesn't sell as well as the others.
Samsung is also enticing buyers with a £250 (around $344) cashback offer for the Galaxy S25 Ultra (and £180 / $247 for the standard S25) via a virtual Mastercard Prepaid Card. To claim this cashback, you'll need to upload proof of purchase to Samsung's official claim site, and once approved, the virtual card will be delivered to your Samsung Wallet. The funds must then be spent using Samsung Wallet.
The less encouraging news is that the 256GB and 512GB models are still being sold at full price. Given that the Galaxy S26 series is just weeks away, it's quite unusual for Samsung to have so few promotions for its year-old flagship devices in both the U.K. and U.S. markets.
This scarcity of deep discounts in both regions could be a direct result of the ongoing global chip shortage, which continues to put pressure on the profit margins of smartphone manufacturers. If this trend persists, expect Samsung to lean more towards deals like gift cards, cashback, and free software trials, rather than the substantial discounts we saw with offers like the $849 Black Friday 2025 deal.
What are your thoughts on these potential price increases and the shift away from aggressive discounts? Do you think waiting for a refurbished model is the best strategy, or are you willing to pay a premium for the latest tech right at launch? Let us know in the comments below!
