What to do if the Galaxy S26 Ultra is a dud? Well, you could simply opt for the Galaxy Z Fold 7 while it's going cheap
The device is as low as $999 right now — it's a serious contender
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If rumors are true, the Galaxy S26 Ultra is almost certainly going to be released within the next few weeks. The device is likely to offer the lion's share of new features from the brand, but it could also be a rather iterative upgrade. So, what to do if you want to go big for your next phone?
Well, the obvious option is the Galaxy Z Fold 7. Yes, it's pricey, but the official Samsung Store has a fantastic deal on the device right now that might just make you consider joining team foldable.
The deal in question is the choice between the usual trade-in rebate of up to $1,000 or a $400 upfront discount. Both these apply to unlocked devices, so you're getting a pretty sizeable discount here without having to sign up for a pricey unlimited plan at one of the major carriers.
Of course, the Galaxy Z Fold 7 is still going to be an expensive buy. But, so will the Galaxy S26 Ultra, so it's definitely an option if you're a fan of the brand's devices but want to try something a little different.
Samsung's current deal on the Galaxy Z Fold 7
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7: $400 upfront, or up to $1,000 off with a trade-in at Samsung
The Galaxy Z Fold 7 is an amazing device with a hefty price tag. Today's deal at the official Samsung store, however, knocks a huge $400 off all color variants, bringing the price down to $1,599 upfront. If you'd prefer, you can also trade-in for a discount of up to $1,000, which is enough to get the device for $999 unlocked.
How will the two devices compare?
The main difference, aside from the fact that the Fold 7 has a much bigger display, is that the Ultra will almost certainly feature a speedier chipset and a more advanced camera. These are the two areas that Samsung will most likely focus on for this generation's upgrades. Although that's just an educated guess. No actual features or specs have been confirmed for the upcoming Galaxy S26 series.
One of the most controversial aspects of the Fold 7 is that Samsung's excellent S-Pen is no longer supported on this iteration. That was something we specifically called out on our Galaxy Z Fold 7 review, and it's something that the Galaxy S25 Ultra notably doesn't suffer from. If the S-Pen is important to you, then we expect Samsung to still support it on the Galaxy S26 Ultra.
Samsung Galaxy: reserve your device and get $30 credit at Samsung
Interested in the next Galaxy series? You can already reserve a device over at the official Samsung Store. Not only will you secure yourself a device once pre-orders go live, but you'll also get $30 store credit in addition to any deals available, plus the chance to win $5,000 in a sweepstake. Signing up is free, and all you need is an email, so it's definitely worth considering this week.
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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.
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