The clock is ticking. Samsung’s launch promotions for the Galaxy S26 and S26 Ultra are wrapping up this Wednesday and if you’ve been watching from the sidelines, this is the moment to stop hesitating. Trade in an eligible smartphone on Samsung’s website and you can get up to $900 in credit toward the Galaxy S26 Ultra which works out to nearly 70% off the most powerful phone in the lineup.
See Galaxy S26 Ultra at Samsung.com
See Galaxy S26/S26+ at Samsung.com
This Wednesday is the last day of Samsung’s launch deals for the Galaxy S26, S26+ and S26 Ultra. If you’ve been on the fence about buying one, now is the time to do it. These deals aren’t the kind that stay around under a different name: once they’re gone, they’re gone. This is one of the best smartphone deals in years because of the new hardware and the price.
3 Reasons Why You Should Pre-order It
The Galaxy S26 Ultra’s built-in Privacy Display is the first reason why it beats all other flagship phones right now. You can’t just order this screen protector from Amazon and peel it off yourself: The edges of your screen are darkened by pixel-level technology that is built right into the display. This makes it impossible for the person next to you on the train to read what you’re looking at and turns on by itself to hide passwords, PIN codes, unlock patterns, and new messages. This feature alone is a big step up from what Apple or Google are currently offering for anyone who has to deal with sensitive work emails, banking, or just doesn’t want to be watched in public.
The second reason is that AI can do things instead of just being a marketing point. The Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy powers the Galaxy S26 series and this chip has a neural processing unit that is up to 39% faster than the one from last year. That raw power supports a set of AI features that are really helpful in everyday life. Samsung’s Now Nudge automatically brings up tasks based on what you talk about. For example, if you talk about meeting a friend, it might suggest adding it to your calendar before you even think to do it. You can type a command in plain English, like “order me an Uber to the airport,” and the phone will handle the whole process, stopping only to confirm your payment.
The price is the third reason and this is where the Wednesday deadline really hurts. Samsung’s trade-in deal on the Galaxy S26 Ultra lets you get up to $900 off the price of the 256GB model which costs $1,299. That brings your out-of-pocket cost down to about $399 if you trade in a device that meets the requirements. The iPhone 17 Pro starts at $999, but Apple’s trade-in program offers much less. The Galaxy S26 starts at $899, and even if you don’t trade in your old phone, Samsung is giving you $150 off accessories and up to 10% off Galaxy Watches and Galaxy Buds.
The phones will be sent out on March 11. If you pre-order by Wednesday, you can lock in these launch prices and get the device on the first day without having to look for stock. If you’re buying a $1,299 flagship, you should think about getting a Samsung Care+ plan which starts at $10 a month and covers cracked screens and repairs by Samsung-certified technicians.