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Don’t Dish Out $900 for the Latest Samsung Galaxy S26 When You Can Get It for Free

Take advantage of trade-ins, carrier deals and even direct discounts to shave a large chunk of change off the starting price of the entire Samsung Galaxy S26 lineup.

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Headshot of Aashna Gheewalla
Aashna Gheewalla Associate Writer
Aashna Gheewalla is an Associate Writer at CNET. She previously worked as a Deals Writer at Wirecutter and a Health Advocacy Writer at GoodRx. She spends her free time teaching and practicing Pilates and trying out different restaurants.
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Adrian is a deals writer on the Commerce team at CNET. With a love of books, entertainment, travel, tabletop games and, yes, even fandom, they can often be found at concerts, RenFest, Dragon Con or at home binge-watching everything from new hits to classics. After graduating from Kennesaw State with a BA in English and Professional Writing, Adrian had a short gig in casting, followed by a long stint teaching English lit, theater and film, before transitioning into commerce writing in 2021. Adrian enjoys sharing insights and favorite finds with their readers.
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Samsung's Galaxy S26 phones are sitting at the top of the Android market right now. If you've been thinking of upgrading, you don't need to spend the full amount. There are a few solid ways to cut costs.

Outright discounts aren't usually common, but we've spotted a few happening now, along with trade-in offers and carrier deals. In some cases, it can even drop the price to zero.

On top of that, some retailers are bundling in added value. Amazon is currently including gift cards and extra trade-in savings, which can come in handy if you're planning to buy accessories, too.

Carrier offers can be even more advantageous. For example, Verizon is offering the phone free when you open a line, making it a strong option right now.

Our team at CNET has rounded up the best Galaxy S26 deals available now, all in one place. We'll keep this page updated as new offers pop up, so check back often to make sure you're getting the best price possible.

Best Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra deals

You can knock an instant $200 off the S26 Ultra at Samsung, bringing the starting price to $1,100.

Trading in your old Samsung phone could take up to $720 off the new Galaxy S26 Ultra, which brings the starting price down to just $380. Devices from Apple, Google and other brands are also accepted, but won't save you as much.

If you want some accessories, take 10% off the Galaxy Buds 4 or 4 Pro with the purchase of an S26 phone.

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Save $200, plus up to $720 with trade-in

When you order from Amazon, you can save $200 directly, bringing the starting price to $1,300. Amazon's trade-in program can save you up to $550 and an additional $300 with a limited-time offer.

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Save $200 plus more with trade in

At Best Buy, you can save $200 on the S26 Ultra, bringing the cost down to $1,300.

You can also get up to $900 off with an eligible trade-in. Plus, you'll get an extra $100 off if you activate the phone with Verizon or AT&T.

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Save $200 plus more with trade-in

If you're on the Infinite Access for Galaxy plan, you can get $800 off the S26 Ultra. This brings your total down to $14 per month for 36 months.

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Save $800

T-Mobile is offering up to $800 off when you open a new line on the Experience More plan. If you have an older device to trade in, you can still score up to $800 off on an Experience Beyond or Experience More plan.

On most other T-Mobile plans, you'll save $600 when you add a new line, or up to $300 with a trade-in.

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Save up to $800 with new line or trade-in

Verizon is offering big discounts to customers on its Unlimited Ultimate plan. Adding a line will save you $1,300, which means you could potentially get the phone for free. You could also trade in your older device and save up to $900 off your purchase. You'll need to open a new line. You should also note that this cannot be combined with other offers.

If you don't want to trade in or add a new line, you can still save $100 when you purchase this phone online.

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Free with new line

AT&T is offering some massive trade-in savings on the Galaxy S26 Ultra right now. Devices valued at $230 or more, which include the latest Samsung phones in any condition, will save you up to $1,300. That puts the 256GB model in your pocket for zero outlay.

Plus, you'll get up to $1,100 off for devices valued at $95 or more. And those valued at just $35 or more will still save you up to $900.

AT&T also offers an online-only deal of $200 off when you also add a new line on an eligible plan. And you can get up to $800 to break your current contract at another carrier if you're looking to switch.

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Free with trade-in

Best Samsung Galaxy S26 Plus deals

You can knock an instant $175 off the S26 Plus at Samsung, bringing the starting price to $925.

You can save up to $480 when you order the Samsung Galaxy S26 with an eligible trade-in. The amount you get depends on the device you're trading in, with Samsung's latest phones netting you the biggest discount.

And if you want some accessories, take 10% off the Galaxy Buds 4 or 4 Pro with purchase of an S26 phone.

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Save $175, plus up to $480 with trade-in

When you order from Amazon, you'll score a direct $100 discount, dropping the starting price to $1,000. If you want the 512GB version, you can save $175, bringing it down to $1,125. Plus, you can get up to $550 off with trade-in. Also, for a limited time, you can get an additional $100 off with a trade-in

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Save up to $175, plus more with trade in

Best Buy is taking $175 off the Galaxy S26 Plus, dropping the starting price down to $925.

They are also offering up to $700 off an S26 Plus when you trade in an older device. Plus, activating this phone through Verizon or AT&T will save you an additional $100.

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Save $175, plus up to $700 with trade-in

T-Mobile customers on an Experience More plan can get up to $800 off the S26 Plus. Also, you can save the same amount if you have a device to trade-in. Some of the more recent models from iPhone and Samsung can net you the full discount of $800; brands like OnePlus are also accepted, but for less.

Those on most other plans can still get up to $600 off and up to $300 with trade-in.

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Save up to $800 with a new line or trade-in

If you're on the Infinite Access for Galaxy plan, you can get $800 off. This brings your total down to a little more than $8 per month for 36 months.

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Save $800

When you open a line on an Unlimited Plus or Ultimate plan, you can save $1,100. This nets you a free phone. You'll see the savings in bill credits across 36 months. If you don't want to add a new line, you can still save $100 when you purchase this phone online.

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Free with new line

Trading in any device valued at just $95 or more will put the 256GB Galaxy S26 Plus in your pocket for free right now. Plus, old devices valued at just $35 or more can still save you up to $900.

AT&T also offers an online-only deal of $200 off when you also add a line on an eligible plan. And you can get up to $800 to break your current contract at another carrier if you're looking to switch.

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Free with trade-in

Best Samsung Galaxy S26 deals

Save a direct $100 on the Galaxy S26 at Samsung. This drops the starting price to $800.

Trading in your old phone at Samsung could knock up to $380 off the Galaxy S26. The latest Samsung devices will net you the biggest discount, but devices from Apple, Google and other brands are also accepted.

And if you want some accessories, take 10% off the Galaxy Buds 4 or 4 Pro with purchase of an S26 phone.

Details
Save $100 plus up to $380 with trade-in

When you order from Amazon, you can save $100 on all configurations of the Galaxy S26.

You can also save up to $550 with Amazon's trade-in program to maximize your savings. For a limited time, you can also get an additional $100 off when you trade in.

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Save $100, plus more with trade-in

Save an instant $100 on the Galaxy S26, dropping the starting price to $800.

Best Buy also has its own trade-in program where you can save up to $500 in exchange for your old device. Plus, activating through Verizon or AT&T will save you an extra $100. Best Buy is also offering a $50 gift card when you purchase the phone.

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Save $100, plus up to $500 with trade-in

If you're on Boost Mobile's $65 per month Infinite Access for Galaxy plan, you can qualify to save $800. That means you'll pay less than $3 per month for the brand-new S26.

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Save $800

T-Mobile customers adding a line on its Experience More plan can save up to $800 off the Galaxy S26 right now. You can also trade in an older device if you have one. Adding a line on most other plans still saves you $600. Plus, you can save up to $300 if you trade-in.

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Save up to $800 with new line or trade-in

Verizon is offering $900 off the Galaxy S26 with a new line on its Unlimited Plus or Ultimate plans. That scores you the basic model free or the 512GB model for less than $6 per month. The discount will be applied as bill credits over 36 months. If none of this applies to you, you can still save $100 when you purchase the phone online.

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Free with new line

Trading in a Samsung Galaxy S, Note or Z series device in any condition, or any other device valued at just $35 or more, will save you up to $900 on the Galaxy S26. That puts the basic model in your pocket for free and drops the 512GB model to less than $6 per month.

AT&T also offers an online-only deal of $200 off when you also add a line on an eligible plan. And you can get up to $800 to break your current contract at another carrier if you're looking to switch.

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Free with trade-in

What's new about the S26 series?

As revealed during the Samsung Unpacked event, the S26 series consists of the base model, along with the S26 Plus and S26 Ultra. The S26 and S26 Plus have a $100 price hike when compared to their predecessors, but all three phones in the series have top-tier Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy chip and Galaxy AI. The base model got a larger display and battery, too. And the Ultra now has a slimmer and lighter build with an aluminum frame, plus it has an improved battery, camera and display. You can read more about these changes in our coverage from CNET's Abrar Al-Heeti and Patrick Holland.

How much does the S26 series cost?

Prices differ depending on the model and the amount of storage you buy.

  • Samsung Galaxy S26: From $900
  • Samsung Galaxy S26 Plus: From $1,100
  • Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra: From $1,300

What colors does the S26 series come in?

The S26 series comes in cobalt violet, sky blue, black and white. There are also two online exclusive colors: silver shadow and pink gold, which are only available at Samsung.

Shopping for a previous Samsung Galaxy model? Our roundup of the best S25 deals includes sales on the entire Samsung Galaxy S25 lineup. 

How does S26 series trade-in offers work?

Samsung and carriers often offer trade-in savings, giving existing phone owners a great way to pick up the latest phone at a discounted price. Some of the best trade-in offers can even make the new phone free.

Not a fan of contracts? Some retailers also offer trade-in programs, which could offer gift cards toward future purchases instead. This can be a great way to take advantage of savings without necessarily being locked into a contract. Retail offers may not provide as much of a deal as traditional trade-in offers from carriers, though, so keep that in mind as you shop and more offers come online.