Samsung vs Amazon: which retailer has the best unlocked Galaxy S26 preorder deal right now?

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. That's a very handy little bonus for cheap accessories on the side.

Samsung Galaxy S26 series: free storage upgrade, plus gift card of up to $200 value at Amazon
Amazon's deal on the Galaxy S26 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 worth up to $200. 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 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.

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.

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.