PSA: Samsung Galaxy S26 preorders end in a few days — here's why it's a good idea to pick up a device now
These could be the best deals we see for a while
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If you're thinking about picking up one of the latest Samsung Galaxy S26 series phones, then take note that the initial preorder phase ends on March 11. In short, you've only got a few days left to pick up a device before it's actually released.
Why the urgency? Well, if you're someone who follows the best cell phone deals, then you'll know that the initial preorders phase usually has particularly good promotions on new releases. Outside of Black Friday, it's usually when you can get the biggest discounts on an upgrade.
Just below, you can see the best promotions for early adopters in both the US and UK. I've scanned through all the top retailers to find the biggest discounts here, including options for both carrier and unlocked devices.
The biggest discounts? Locked behind plans and trade-ins, of course. But, it is possible to get upwards of $1,299 / £900 off if you're willing to hand over an old device.
Over at T-Mobile, for example, you can actually get a free Galaxy S26 Ultra right now with one of the carrier's high-end plans. In the UK, the biggest discount is Three's whopping trade-in rebate of up to £914 — one of the highest I've ever seen in this territory.
Samsung Galaxy S26 deals in the US
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Samsung Galaxy S26: get up to $900 off with a trade-in, or $150 credit at Samsung
Looking for an unlocked device? Look no further than Samsung's excellent opening deal on the Galaxy S26 series. Available right now is an impressive trade-in rebate of up to $900 off - a discount that can result in a seriously cheap phone. Alternatively, if you're not looking to trade, then you can instead get up to $150 in store credit today - a very handy little bonus indeed for cheap accessories on the side.
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Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra: free with a new unlimited line, plus free tablet at T-Mobile
T-Mobile's strongest opening offer has to be the carrier's deal on the Galaxy S26 Ultra. Impressively, you don't even need to trade-in to be eligible for here, although you do need a line on the higher-end Experience Beyond or Go5G Next plans. If you're looking for a cheaper line, then you can instead get the standard Galaxy S26 on the Experience More or Go5G Plus plans without having to trade. And, as a side note, you can also bundle in a Galaxy Tab A11+ for free if you take out an additional tablet cellular line.
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Samsung Galaxy S26 Plus: free with a new unlimited line at Verizon
My favorite deal at Verizon today is on the Galaxy S26 Plus - a device that's currently available for free if you pair it up with either the high-end Ultimate or mid-tier Plus plan. More interested in the Welcome Unlimited plan? Then you can simply get the device for just $10/mo, which is a great price. Alternatively, you can instead trade-in an old device to get the Galaxy S26 Ultra alongside an Ultimate unlimited plan.
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Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra: free with a trade-in and unlimited line, plus cheap accessories at AT&T
AT&T's best opening deal is on the Galaxy S26 Ultra in my opinion, as you can get this high-end device for free with a trade-in and unlimited line. All the devices require trades for discounts today, so why not go all-out and pick up the best of the best? Sweetening the deal further today is the option to bundle in a tablet and smartwatch for just $0.99 per month each if you're willing to pay a little extra for accessory cellular lines.
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Samsung Galaxy S26 series: free storage upgrade, plus gift card of up to $200 value at Amazon
Amazon's deal on the devices is pretty darn good if you need an unlocked device. Not only is there a free storage upgrade, but the retailer is also throwing in a gift card of up to $200 in value. Note, you need to buy the Ultra to get the full amount, but you can still get $150 and $100 with the Plus and Galaxy S26 respectively.
Samsung Galaxy S26 deals in the UK
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Samsung Galaxy S26: free storage upgrade, plus up to £607 off with a trade at Samsung
Over at the official Samsung Store, you can get some of the biggest trade-in rebates of up to £607 on the new lineup of Galaxy S26 phones. So, if you're looking to upgrade from your existing handset and keep your current network contract, then this is likely the best place to look first. All devices also include a free double storage upgrade to 512GB. Plus, if you registered your interest ahead of this reveal livestream, you have an extra £30 to spend in the store.
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Samsung Galaxy S26: save up to £20 per month on SIMs and £696 with a trade-in
EE has trade-in discounts of up to £696 across the full Samsung Galaxy S26 lineup and savings of up to £20 a month on the 128GB Essentials SIM plan when you pair it with a handset. You can also customise how much you pay upfront and over what period of time to reduce the monthly cost futher.
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Samsung Galaxy S26: save up to £490 with a trade-in, plus £180 off an unlimited Airtime Plan
Vodafone's headline offer is total savings of up to £914 on the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra. This full discount combines a trade-in offer of up to £490 for your existing phone, a £180 saving on an unlimited data Airtime Plan, and the chance to save £244 on your phone when you add a select Samsung watch, tablet or earbuds to your order, and claim an additional £100 cashback.
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Samsung Galaxy S26: save up to £630, plus get Galaxy Buds4 Pro for under £3 per month
The intro offer at O2 on the Samsung Galaxy S26 includes total savings of up to £630. This is through a flat £150 discount on the handset, thanks to the free double storage upgrade, and a £10 per month discount on the Unlimited or Unlimited Plus tariff over the 48-month contract length. You also need to pay £30 upfront. Plus, you can add a pair of Samsung Galaxy Buds4 Pro for less than £3 a month extra.
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Samsung Galaxy S26: save up to £914 on the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
Three's launch offer on the Samsung Galaxy S26 is basically identical to the deal at Vodafone. There's up to £490 off with a trade-in, up to £180 off airtime plans, a free double storage upgrade to 512GB, and a flat £54 cut on the handset for good measure. You can also customise your contract length and one-off payment fee to fully control the monthly fee.
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Samsung Galaxy S26: from £30 per month with £12 upfront
The Samsung Galaxy S26 preorder offer at Sky has the latest devices available from £30 per month with an extra £12 upfront cost. You also get a Galaxy Watch8 Classic included for free with the S26 Ultra, or a standard Galaxy Watch8 with the S26 or S26 Plus. All models get the double storage upgrade to 512GB. If you want to pair the device with a SIM, you can get unlimited data for £19, or packages starting at 5GB for as little as £6 per month.
Is it worth preordering a Galaxy S26?
- Improved cameras and screen on the Ultra
- Better chipsets and charging
- Enhanced AI features
Galaxy S26: $899.99 / £879
Galaxy S26 Plus: $1,099.99 / £1,099
Galaxy S26 Ultra: $1,299.99 / £1,279
Overall, the Galaxy S26 series is worth considering if you want the latest performance improvements, upgraded cameras, and Samsung’s newest AI features. However, the upgrades are relatively modest year-over-year, so owners of the S25 series may not find the jump essential. For those coming from older devices, the S26 lineup is a strong option.
The phones feature a slightly slimmer design with more rounded edges, while the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra introduces a refreshed camera housing and improved display processing for sharper visuals. Performance is a clearer step forward, however, with the standard models powered by the new Exynos 2600 chip and the Ultra using the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy.
Otherwise, upgrades are very much focused on the Ultra, which gets expanded camera features and a potentially useful new privacy display.
You can check out our freshly published Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra review if you're interested in seeing this device in more detail.
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Alex is TechRadar's retail editor, specializing in buying advice and general tips on how to save our readers as much cash as possible. He's covered major retail events in some capacity for over seven years now; both in editorial and other ecommerce adjacent roles on TechRadar, T3, GamesRadar, and other Future PLC sites. Alex's expertise touches on most areas, but he has a particular love for phones, laptops, and cameras, being an avid photographer.
- James PickardSenior Deals Editor
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