Samsung is offering to rent you a Galaxy S26 Ultra for a year at 50% of the retail price.

      Samsung has introduced a new initiative to attract more customers to the Galaxy S26 series in one of its major markets. In a press release released today, the company unveiled the "Galaxy Forever" program in India.

      The title might be somewhat misleading, but it essentially functions as an ownership or periodic upgrade scheme, allowing customers to acquire the Galaxy S26 Ultra (priced from $1,502) or the Galaxy S26 Plus (starting from $1,288) by initially paying 50% of the device’s cost, followed by 12 interest-free monthly payments. The standard Galaxy S26 is not included.

      So, what does the Galaxy Forever program involve?

      After one year, participants have three choices. They can return the device after 12 months of use with a monthly payment, similar to renting a smartphone, or they can keep it by paying the remaining 50% through 12 monthly installments.

      Additionally, there's an option to upgrade to the next Galaxy flagship, which subtracts 50% of the original device's price from the new smartphone’s cost. However, this option appears to be available only to those who chose Samsung Finance+ when purchasing the S26 Ultra or S26 Plus.

      As part of the Galaxy Forever initiative, Samsung also offers its Care+ plan, which includes protection against accidental and liquid damage for Rs. 13,999 (approximately $150) for a period of 13 months. This coverage ensures the device remains in good condition upon return, allowing users to receive its full buyback value.

      To participate in the program, customers must pay a monthly fee of Rs. 749.92 ($8.04), which includes coverage for accidental or liquid damage as per the country’s standard policy. Thus, if someone intends to use either the Ultra or Plus variant for six months, they would ultimately pay around $100 in addition to half the price of the phone.

      Here’s a breakdown of the costs associated with renting versus buying:

      For instance, if I purchase the Galaxy S26 Ultra through the Galaxy Forever program, I would pay half the phone's price (approximately $750) in 12 interest-free installments (around $62.5 per month) along with the monthly program fee (about $8), totaling around $847, not $750.

      Furthermore, the buyback value when I opt to buy a new phone in the future would only be half the price of the Galaxy S26 Ultra—around $750. Currently, if I buy the Galaxy S26 Ultra and trade in an S25 Ultra upfront, I could receive up to Rs. 81,900, approximately $879. If Samsung maintains the trade-in values for the S26 Ultra, I may incur a loss of $100 in this process.

      This is an estimated value, and the actual exchange price may be lower; if that's the case, the difference between acquiring a phone through the program versus buying it outright wouldn’t be significant. However, it’s worth evaluating the numbers at least once to confirm.

      The Galaxy Forever program has the potential to resonate well with Samsung enthusiasts.

      Despite this, the Galaxy Forever program is currently limited to India. In the United States, it may be more advantageous to acquire a new Galaxy S26 Ultra via carrier promotions. For example, T-Mobile is offering the Galaxy S26 Ultra effectively at no cost with a new line on the Experience Beyond plan, plus a $35 device connection fee.