Samsung has come up with a fresh way to lure in more customers toward the Galaxy S26 series in one of its key markets. Via a press release published earlier today, the company announced a new “Galaxy Forever” programme in India.
The name might be a bit confusing, but it’s essentially an ownership or periodic upgrade program in which buyers can get the Galaxy S26 Ultra (available from $1502) or Galaxy S26 Plus (available from $1,288) by paying 50% of the device’s price upfront, spread across 12 interest-free monthly installments. The regular Galaxy S26 isn’t eligible.
What exactly does the new Galaxy Forever program entail?
After a year, buyers have three options. They can either return the device after 12 months of use, along with a monthly fee, which is simply like renting a smartphone, or keep it by paying the remaining 50% in 12 monthly installments.
There’s a third option to upgrade to the next Galaxy flagship, which deducts 50% of the original price of the current device from the new smartphone’s price. However, this method seems to be available only to buyers who’ve opted for Samsung Finance+ when purchasing the S26 Ultra or S26 Plus.
As part of the Galaxy Forever program, Samsung is offering its Care+ plan, which includes accidental and liquid damage protection for Rs. 13,999 (around $150) for 13 months. The coverage ensures the device stays in good condition when you return it, so you can avail of the full buyback value.
However, to avail of the program, buyers must pay a monthly fee of Rs. 749.92 ($8.04), which covers accidental or liquid damage under the country’s standard policy. So, even if someone wants to use the Ultra or Plus variant for half a year, they’ll end up paying around $100 in addition to half the phone’s price.
Here’s how the math of renting vs. buying turns out
So, suppose I get the Galaxy S26 Ultra through the Galaxy Forever program, I’ll end up paying half the price of the phone (~$750) divided into 12 interest-free installments (~$62.5) plus the monthly programme fee (~$8), which comes out to be around $847, not $750.
In addition, I’ll only get half the price of the Galaxy S26 Ultra — around $750 — as the buyback value when I purchase a new phone in the future. However, as of now, if I buy the Galaxy S26 Ultra and trade in an S25 Ultra upfront, I’m getting a maximum exchange value of Rs. 81,900, or around $879. If Samsung retains the exchange values for the S26 Ultra, I might end up lossing $100 in the process.
This is an estimated value, and the actual exchange price could be lower; in that case, the difference between getting a phone through the program and buying one without it wouldn’t be much. However, if that’s not the case, the math is worth checking at least once.
The Galaxy Forever program could do well among Samsung loyalists
Even so, the Galaxy Forever could prove very successful among Samsung loyalists in the region (I know quite a few of them).
Given that the Galaxy S26 series is quite expensive, especially in a price-conscious market like India, where the majority of smartphones sold are mid-rangers (around $300 to $500), the Galaxy Forever programme seems to be Samsung way of attracting more customers to the Galaxy S26 Ultra and the Galaxy S26 Plus.
For now, the Galaxy Forever program is limited to India. In the United States, you’re better off getting a new Galaxy S26 Ultra via carrier deals. For instance, T-Mobile is giving away the Galaxy S26 Ultra (effectively for free) with a new line on the Experience Beyond plan (plus a $35 device connection charge).