With the Galaxy S26 launch expected in late February 2026, Samsung is reportedly still deciding on the final cost of its flagship smartphones. The company is grappling with keeping the retail price stable while battling rising memory and component prices, which has manufacturers scrambling to adjust their pricing strategies.

For deal hunters, the message is clear: the steep depreciation of Samsung phones means you should hold onto your money instead of pre-ordering. If you don’t want to miss out on the latest smartphone deal updates, join my newsletter.

A Refurbished Galaxy S26 Might Be Your Savior

The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra remains at full price, despite being long into its release cycle. Is this an omen for the Galaxy S26?. (Photo by Joan Cros/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

NurPhoto via Getty Images

Smartphones lose value incredibly fast after launch, and Samsung’s Galaxy S line is no different. January 2026 data from smartphone resale comparison site SellCell reveals how flagship phones fare six and twelve months after they hit the market.

• The Galaxy S23 series lost 49.7% of its value at six months and 55.5% at 12 months.
• The Galaxy S24 series lost 47.3% of its value at six months and 49.3% at 12 months.
• The Galaxy S25 series lost 46.6% of its value at five months and currently sits at 54.2% depreciation at the 11-month mark.

The 11-month calculation is based on the average depreciation of “mint” condition Galaxy S25 phones across all storage capacities, according to SellCell’s live data.

What does this mean for Galaxy S26 buyers? While the phone will obviously be at its cheapest right before the Galaxy S27 arrives, there is surprisingly little difference in depreciation between the 6-month and 12-month marks.

Waiting six months strikes the perfect balance between owning the latest tech and saving a significant amount of cash.

ForbesSamsung Galaxy S26 Ultra: New Screen, Updated Release DateBy Janhoi McGregor

There is, however, a small reality check worth noting here. For shoppers, these phones aren’t literally 50% cheaper at retail after six months. That percentage represents the “trade-in” value—the price buyback companies pay to purchase the phone from you. It is the absolute floor of what the hardware is worth.

If you buy a refurbished Galaxy S26 Ultra later this year, expect to pay a 20% to 30% markup on those depreciation numbers.

For example, a refurbished 256GB Galaxy S25 Ultra is currently listed for approximately $819 on Amazon. This is about 34% more than the $608 trade-in value currently cited by SellCell. If you opt for a second-hand S25 Ultra from a private seller on eBay, prices typically hover between $700 and $750.

Here’s my advice for deal hunters: if you want to avoid the potential Galaxy S26 price hike, wait six months and buy a refurbished device from a trusted seller that uses genuine parts.

What About Samsung Galaxy S26 Deals and Promotions?

Samsung is reportedly considering raising the price of the Galaxy S26 series by roughly $31 to $62 per model due to component shortages, according to Korean publication ET News. While not a massive jump, the real casualty could be the aggressive promotions that usually knock hundreds off the price.

That same story also suggested Samsung may axe its signature double-storage pre-order deal, which traditionally allowed users to upgrade from 256GB to 512GB at no extra cost.

ForbesSamsung’s Giant Galaxy S25 Ultra Price Cut Now Makes SenseBy Janhoi McGregor

Samsung repeatedly offered free storage upgrades and other incentives for the Galaxy S25 throughout 2025. But, with the cost of memory driving price hikes, don’t expect to see generous deals like this again if supply costs remain high.

A sub-$900 Samsung flagship, with the second-highest memory option, is about as good as it gets and I can’t see Samsung repeating that offer this year if memory costs stay high. Even the Galaxy S25 is selling for full price right now on Samsung.com with no discounts or promotions available, apart from some free software trials.

If 2026 is the year of fewer eye-catching deals, your best discount strategy is simply to wait before buying the Galaxy S26.

Update January 27th: Samsung Launches New Galaxy S25 Ultra Deal

Update January 27th: Samsung is currently running a fresh round of discounts for the Galaxy S25 series, and the type of promotion gives us a preview of what to expect from future S26 deals.

The Galaxy S25 Ultra 1TB model has seen a direct price cut on the Samsung U.K. shop, dropping to £1,349 ($1856) from £1,549 ($2131). None of the other models have received a similar price cut. This isn’t a double storage deal, rather a straight money-off offer for Samsung’s most expensive Galaxy S25 option, which likely doesn’t sell as well as the others.

Samsung is also incentivizing buyers with a £250 ($344) cashback offer for the Galaxy S25 Ultra (and £180 /$247 for the standard S25) in the form of a virtual Mastercard Prepaid Card. The claim process requires jumping through a few hoops to get your cashback:

• You must upload proof of purchase to the official Samsung claim site.
• Once approved, the virtual card is delivered to your Samsung Wallet.
• The money must be spent via Samsung Wallet.

The bad news is that the 256GB and 512GB models remain steadfastly at full price. Considering the Galaxy S26 series is only weeks away, it’s unusual for Samsung to have so few promotions for its year-old flagship tech, in either the U.K. and U.S markets.

This lack of deep discounting in both the U.K. and U.S. markets may stem from the current global chip shortage, which continues to squeeze smartphone manufacturer margins. If this trend holds, expect Samsung to double down on deals like gift cards, cashback, and free software trials, rather than the type of deep discounts we saw with the $849 Black Friday 2025 deal.