Galaxy S26 could release soon, but Samsung will pay you up to £300 to upgrade your Android phone NOW

According to Korean media reports:

Samsung has decided to keep the prices of the Galaxy S26 series and Galaxy Z Fold8 / Flip8 unchanged, with no price increase planned for July.

In addition, the Samsung Galaxy S26 series will be unveiled on February 25 in San Francisco, USA,…

— Ice Universe (@UniverseIce) January 1, 2026

To add to the delayed unveiling, this could also mean that the new Galaxy S26 series won't be available for purchase until mid-March, with dates around March 11 being whispered as the official launch date.

You can learn more about everything we know so far about the new upcoming S26 series here.

If you need a brand-new handset today or aren't fussed about pocketing the latest-and-greatest model from the South Korean firm, then you're in luck. Samsung has unleashed a barrage of incredible offers across its existing range to tide over those waiting for the next Galaxy Unpacked event.

For a very limited time, Samsung will pay you up to £300 to upgrade to the Galaxy S25 lineup — which is still the flagship non-foldable Android handset from the brand. Yes, it's true.

When you purchase a new handset on Samsung's online site, you'll receive a prepaid Master Card. This is essentially free cash that can be used anywhere. For instance, it can be used to pay your monthly phone bill, so you enjoy 5G data and calls at no cost for the next few months, buy the weekly supermarket shop, or treat yourself to some wireless Galaxy Buds from the Samsung Store.

If you want to receive the cash transfer of up to £300 to your Samsung Wallet, you'll need to buy one of seven different Galaxy models, offering plenty of choice across the flagship Android range.

You can claim the reward on:

• Galaxy Z Fold 7
• Galaxy Z Flip 7
• Galaxy S25 Ultra
• Galaxy S25 Edge
• Galaxy S25
• Galaxy S25 FE
• Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE

What makes this particularly generous is that the cashback works out at roughly 20% of what you'll pay for the phone. For example, buying the Galaxy S25 will earn you £180 on a prepaid Mastercard to spend anywhere, while you'll need to pocket the flagship Galaxy Z Fold 7 to unlock the maxed-out £300 windfall.

If you want to secure a prepaid Mastercard when you switch to one of these handsets, you'll need to upgrade to the latest crop of Samsung smartphones by January 29, 2026.

Claiming your reward is straightforward enough. Head to samsungoffers.claims/WinterWalletUK within 30 days of buying your phone from one of the eligible retailers, which includes most household brands like Samsung Store, Amazon UK, Argos, Currys, John Lewis, EE, Vodafone, and other UK retailers, making sure you're registered with a Samsung account.

You'll need to upload proof of purchase and fill in the required details. Each household can make up to four claims, so if you're buying phones for the family, everyone can benefit from the cashback offer.

So what's the difference between the seven models included in this latest promotion? The Galaxy S25 and Galaxy S25 Ultra are part of the flagship lineup launched early last year, with the Galaxy S25 Ultra packing a best-in-class 200-megapixel camera and built-in S Pen stylus for those who want to sign PDFs, make handwritten notes, and other productivity features on-the-move.

The Galaxy Z Fold 7 opens like a book to reveal a massive 8-inch screen, whilst the more affordable Galaxy Z Flip 7 folds in half to fit snugly in any pocket. Both arrive with more durable designs than their predecessors, improved cameras, and the latest Galaxy AI features. These are the handsets to pick if you fancy something different from the usual smartphone shape.

Launched a few months ago, Galaxy S25 FE offers flagship features at a lower price point, making it perfect for anyone who wants quality without breaking the bank. Meanwhile, the Galaxy S25 Edge is ultra-thin and light – designed to face-off against the iPhone Air, though you'll sacrifice some battery life for that sleek design.

The beauty of this reward is how you can spend it. Your prepaid Mastercard works anywhere that accepts Mastercard payments, whether you're shopping online or popping into physical stores.

Fancy booking a weekend away? It'll cover that. Need to stock up on everyday essentials or treat yourself to something nice? You can do that too.

Entertainment, groceries, travel, dining out – the choice is completely yours. It's ready to use straight from your phone through Samsung Wallet, making the whole experience wonderfully straightforward.

What features are expected from the Galaxy S26 lineup?

Towards the end of last year, Daniel Araujo, who leads Samsung's Mobile Experience Division revealed a few details on what we can expect during the company's third-quarter earnings call.

He promised the Galaxy S26 lineup will "revolutionise the user experience" through a combination of next-generation AI features, improved performance, and enhanced camera capabilities."

Team is taking an advanced approach with their AI features. Mr Araujo explained that the new artificial intelligence won't just respond to commands.

It could be learning your habits and adapting to how you use the smartphone. This means your Galaxy S26 will understand your preferences and adjust its behaviour accordingly, creating what Samsung calls a "user-centric" experience. Samsung hasn't revealed every new AI feature yet, but these capabilities could be central to what sets the S26 series apart from its predecessors.

For the processor, you'll have different options depending on where you live. Samsung is breaking new ground with its Exynos 2600 chip — the company’s first processor built on 2nm technology, promising faster performance and greater energy efficiency.

This smaller manufacturing process means the chip can pack more power, while using less battery. That's because signals between components have shorter distances to travel. Given that modern smartphones execute trillions of operations every single second, these small efficiencies quickly add up.

However, if you're in certain regions, your Galaxy S26 will come with Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processor. Samsung hasn't confirmed any final decisions about which regions will get which processor.

They're evaluating both options to ensure you get the most efficient and powerful experience possible.

These upgraded sensors will deliver better image quality in all types of lighting, from bright sunshine to dimly lit restaurants.

Battery life

In terms of battery, there was initially a slew of rumours that there would be a massive battery upgrade, but now it appears there may only be a modest update.

Currently, whispers are suggesting that the new series will feature 20W wireless charging, which is slightly more power than the current 15W wireless charging systems of its predecessors.

Display

It has been said that the S26 will have a 6.1-inch AMOLED screen, and the S26 Plus a larger 6.7-inch one. In one instance, it was even said that the S26 Plus could feature a 6.9-inch screen.

A leaked render by the team at Android Headlines suggests that the S26 Ultra has rounded corners and has undergone a refresh on the rear camera hub. For comparison, the current S25 Ultra, as well as the other S25 models, has three raised cameras in a vertical line down the top corner of the phone.

Aside from the camera, other leaked screenshots suggest that you may be getting a new privacy screen built into the Ultra. In the settings of the phone, you may be able to adjust whether a private display is toggled on or off, depending on your preferences.

The next S26 Ultra will have a privacy feature that keeps people from peeking at your screen. pic.twitter.com/tFcgeFpCqG

— Ach (@achultra) October 2, 2025

AI features

AI is also being integrated further into your photography. There will be an AI-powered image processing system that quickly recognises each scene and automatically applies the perfect settings.

The company also mentioned advanced computational photography features, suggesting you'll see improvements in areas like portrait mode and night photography.

Tipster Ice Universe also said that the Galaxy S26 Ultra will specifically feature a camera with a 24MP mode with no latency when pressing the shutter.

The Galaxy S26 Ultra features 24MP mode with no latency when pressing the shutter. It only takes 3 seconds to process in the background. You can confidently perform continuous shooting.

— Ice Universe (@UniverseIce) January 12, 2026

What will the Galaxy S26 series cost?

Due to the rising cost of materials to build these handsets, there has been speculation that the cost will rise as a result. In South Korea specifically, a new report has confirmed that Samsung is considering an increase of 44,000 to 88,000 won.

However, other rumours are suggesting that there will be no price hike in the US and the UK in a potential strategy to boost global sales.

Stay tuned to GBN Tech for all the latest Samsung news.