Three ways to get a FREE Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra before the big release

The blue Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra with its S Pen sticking out of the sheath
(Image credit: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)

Samsung's newest flagship lineup finally hits store shelves on Wednesday, March 11th, which means you only have a few more days to take advantage of the best Galaxy S26 preorder deals before they're gone.

Fortunately, there are plenty of offers to choose from, with a few promotions that might even get you the powerful Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra for free — IF you're able to meet the eligibility requirements. This generally means that you'll need to upgrade your wireless service or trade in an old or broken device if you want to land the max savings. These deals may not be for everyone, but make them work for you and you'll be using one of the most powerful Samsung phones ever built in no time.

3 legit deals that get you the Galaxy S26 Ultra for FREE

T-Mobile: Get a FREE Galaxy S26 Ultra with eligible unlimited plan

T-Mobile: Get a FREE Galaxy S26 Ultra with eligible unlimited plan

Add a line with the Experience Beyond plan and T-Mobile will give you $1,300 in promo credits over 24 months. That's enough to make the S26 Ultra completely free, no trade-in required! Even if you go with a lower-tier data plan, T-Mo will still hook you up with a $600 discount.

Verizon: Get a FREE Galaxy S26 Ultra with eligible trade-in and new line

Verizon: Get a FREE Galaxy S26 Ultra with eligible trade-in and new line

Add a line with the Unlimited Ultimate plan and Verizon will give you a free Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra when you trade in an old or broken phone. The carrier is being pretty generous with the devices it accepts, so check out Verizon's trade-in tool on the product page to see how much you can save.

Don't have anything to trade in? Skip that part altogether and Verizon will still drop the price of the S26 Ultra down to $5 per month for 36 months with the Unlimited Ultimate plan.

AT&T: Get a FREE Galaxy S26 Ultra with eligible trade-in and new line

AT&T: Get a FREE Galaxy S26 Ultra with eligible trade-in and new line

Similar to the Verizon deal detailed above, AT&T will give you a free Galaxy S26 Ultra when you trade in and add a line with a qualifying unlimited plan. Any Galaxy S or Z series device from 2024 or newer will land you the max credit, so dig out those old devices!

Is the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra worth it?

Starting at $1,299.99 for the 256GB configuration, the Galaxy S26 Ultra is easily one of the most powerful Android phones ever built. The device is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset and comes with some upgraded camera tech, an ultra-slim build, and a gorgeous 6.9-inch screen with the new "Privacy Display" feature.

Just like past generations of the phone, the Galaxy S26 Ultra also comes with a built-in stylus, all of the latest Galaxy AI features, and seven years of OS and security upgrades guaranteed.

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Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra: specs

Category

Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra

Display

6.9-inch QHD+ AMOLED, 120Hz Adaptive Refresh Rate

Processor

Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5

RAM

12GB / 16GB

Storage

256GB / 512GB / 1TB

Battery / Charging

5,000mAh; 60W wired, Qi 2.2 w/ 25W wireless speeds, 4.5 reverse wireless

Weight

214g

Price

$1,299.99 (256GB) / $1,499.99 (512GB) / $1,799.99 (1TB)

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Patrick Farmer
eCommerce Editor

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. 

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