Best Value
Best Value
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
$1,299
Samsung Galaxy S26 Plus
$1,099
Since its official announcement, the Galaxy S26 series has been among the most talked-about topics in the tech industry. Samsung claims the lineup is on a path toward massive commercial success. Now, some recent anecdotal reports hint at one of the possible strategies the company might be using. Apparently, some Galaxy S26 Ultra owners who initiated return requests were met with an unexpected counteroffer: partial refunds that, in one case, reached up to $250.
Samsung reportedly offered up to $250 to Galaxy S26 Ultra owners amid return attempt
This “retention at any cost” tactic likely stems from a combination of technical hurdles and financial pressure. A major point of contention for early adopters is the new Privacy Display technology. The company designed this feature as an innovative way to ward off prying eyes. However, some users have reported that the screen feels dimmer than previous models—with a confirmation from Samsung. Plus, a few owners even cited eye strain and headaches. These types of motivations can lead some to return their new phones.
Beyond the hardware feedback, Samsung’s mobile division (MX) is reportedly navigating a challenging economic landscape. Internal reports say that the division is facing smaller profit margins for the series. This is mainly due to rising component costs—often referred to as “chipflation.” Some analysts think that the division’s operating margins could drop as low as 1% to 2% this year. In comparison, it was 11% in early 2025.
A lucrative opportunity for buyers?
For consumers, this situation creates a unique, albeit temporary, opportunity. Retailers like Amazon have already been seen offering $200 gift cards with purchases to encourage upgrades. Still, a direct partial refund from the manufacturer is a rarer occurrence. Currently, these reported retention offers appear to be limited to the United States, where the Galaxy S26 Ultra starts at $1,299.
Some might view this as a “grift” for savvy shoppers to score a discount on a phone they intended to keep anyway. Whether this strategy will successfully quiet the controversy surrounding the new display technology remains to be seen. For now, it seems the company prefers to part with a few hundred dollars rather than lose a customer entirely.
Win a Samsung Galaxy S26!
Want to try your luck? Our ongoing big giveaway with ROKFORM gives you the chance to win a Galaxy S26 device. ROKFORM is also offering one of the best cases you can find for the S26 phones, so you can also check it out.