AT&T's new deal really does get you the Galaxy S26 Ultra for FREE — but there's a catch
An immense phone with immense potential savings, courtesy of AT&T.
Get the latest news from Android Central, your trusted companion in the world of Android
You are now subscribed
Your newsletter sign-up was successful
New Samsung phones are on the way, and many of the industry's leading wireless carriers are scrambling to offer the best Galaxy S26 deals ahead of the March 11 release date. AT&T, for instance, will currently give you a free Galaxy S26 Ultra when you add a qualified line and process a trade-in through its site.
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra 256GB: $1,299.99 FREE with eligible trade-in and new line at AT&T
Preorder the super-powered Galaxy S26 Ultra from AT&T and you might get the phone for FREE with an eligible trade-in and unlimited plan sign-up. That's $1,300 of savings over 36 months, and anyone who sends in an S24 Plus, Z Fold 5, or newer will earn the max credit.
The Galaxy S26 Ultra is destined to rank among the most powerful Android phones ever built, coming complete with an outstanding Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset, an ultra-thin build, and a gorgeous 6.9-inch AMOLED display with a S Pen built right into the device.
At first glance, this seems like a run-of-the-mill Samsung Galaxy S26 preorder deal, but take a closer look and you'll see how AT&T's offer stands out from the crowd. Unlike some retailers, the Big Three carrier is actually being quite transparent about the devices that it's accepting for trade-in credit. According to its website, AT&T will give you the full discount when you send in a Galaxy S24 Plus, Z Fold 5, or newer.
In other words, if you've bought any S or Z series Samsung phone since 2024, you'll be eligible for the free S26 Ultra when you trade in and add a line with an unlimited plan at AT&T. The fine print means that this deal isn't for everyone, but make it work for you and the potential savings are immense.
Need a back-up plan?
Samsung Galaxy S26 256GB: $899.99 FREE with qualified line and Samsung trade-in at AT&T
If the S26 Ultra deal isn't working for you, don't throw in the towel just yet. AT&T is also running a deal that gets you a FREE Galaxy S26 with a new line and ANY Galaxy S, Z, or Note series device trade-in, regardless of age or condition.
The base model Galaxy S26 boasts the same Snapdragon processor as the Ultra, plus 12GB of RAM, a seven-year update promise, and all of the latest Galaxy AI software features.
Get the latest news from Android Central, your trusted companion in the world of Android

After almost a decade of working in the e-commerce space, Patrick Farmer (he/him) began his career at Android Central as a Deals and Commerce Writer before moving into a new role as AC's eCommerce Editor in 2023. When he's not hunting down the best deals and offering shopping advice for our readers, you'll often find him listening to music, camping out at a brewery, or treating his cat like a human child.
You must confirm your public display name before commenting
Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.


