New Samsung Offer To Galaxy S26 Buyers Is A Serious Reality Check

InnovationConsumer TechNew Samsung Offer To Galaxy S26 Buyers Is A Serious Reality CheckByJanhoi McGregor,Senior Contributor.Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. Janhoi McGregor (jan-eye) is a reporter who covers technology news.Follow AuthorApr 22, 2026, 04:58pm EDTApr 22, 2026, 04:58pm EDT--:-- / --:--This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more.This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more.Samsung isn’t alone in hiking the price of its Galaxy S26 this year (not to mention the recent surprise Galaxy Z Fold 7 price rise); Motorola, Xiamoi and Oppo have done the same. Paying more is unavoidable in 2026 thanks to the ongoing memory chip crisis. But higher prices isn’t the only issue this year; it’s how those higher prices affect discounts.A new Samsung promotion gives us a sobering idea of what to expect when it comes to price cuts for Samsung phones this year. Read on for more, and don’t forget to subscribe to my newsletter for instant deal updates.Samsung Drops Galaxy S26 Price Back Down To NormalSamsung Galaxy S26 Ultra. (Photo by Joan Cros/NurPhoto via Getty Images)NurPhoto via Getty ImagesThe good news is that the Galaxy S26 just received its first proper discount this week. The bad news is that it’s now as expensive as the base Galaxy S25’s launch price last year.Samsung has knocked $100 off the 256GB and 512GB models if no phone is traded in, which brings them down to $799 and $999 respectively. The deal effectively cancels out the $100 increase the 256GB model received at release in March. $100 off a new flagship is a decent, if not spectacular, deal any other time, but with recent price increases, it’s a bitter pill to swallow for deal hunters in 2026.There’s better news for the Galaxy S26 Plus. Samsung has knocked $175 off both storage options, bringing prices down to $924.99 and $1,124.99. That means the Galaxy S26 Plus 256GB is $75 cheaper than its predecessor was at launch, while the 512GB option is now $5...