Samsung runs one of the most generous trade-in programs in the US, but the value of your Galaxy depends on three things: which model you own, when you trade it, and where you trade it. This guide compares Samsung trade-in values across the Galaxy lineup for 2026, explains why two identical phones can fetch very different credits, and shows how to land the top offer.
How Samsung trade-in values work
When you buy a new Galaxy from Samsung’s online store, you can trade in your old phone for instant credit against the purchase. Samsung also runs boosted promotions around flagship launches, when trade-in credits for recent models jump well above their everyday values. Carriers offer their own version: Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile typically match or beat Samsung’s credit, but spread it across 24 to 36 months of bill credits instead of an instant discount. Retailers like Best Buy sit in between, sometimes adding gift cards or accessory bundles.
The pattern is consistent: the newest models earn the biggest credits, values step down with each older generation, and launch-window promotions pay the most. Condition matters too — a flawless phone with a healthy battery earns the full quote, while a cracked screen or a device that fails to power on can cut the offer sharply or disqualify it.
Samsung trade-in values: the flagship tier
The strongest reported credits of the current cycle come from Samsung’s Galaxy S26 launch promotions, reported by 9to5Google. Trading in a Galaxy S25 Ultra or a Galaxy Z Fold 7 earned $900 in credit toward a new Galaxy S26 device. A Galaxy S24 Ultra earned $800. With those credits applied, the Galaxy S26 Ultra dropped as low as $399, and Samsung added a further $50 off for shoppers using a PayPal promotion code.
Those numbers explain the shape of the whole market. A one-generation-old flagship is the most valuable trade-in you can own, because it is recent, still in demand on the refurbished market, and most units are in good condition. A two-generation-old flagship still earns a strong credit — $800 in the S24 Ultra’s case — but the gap widens with each additional year. Older S-series phones, and the Galaxy Z Flip line, sit a tier below the Ultra and Fold flagships: still valuable, but not at the top of the table.
The rest of the lineup: Fold, Flip, FE and A-series
Foldables hold value well when they are recent — the Z Fold 7’s $900 launch-window credit matched the S25 Ultra — but older foldables fall faster, because buyers worry about hinge and display wear. The Z Flip line follows the same curve at lower absolute values, reflecting its lower launch price.
The Galaxy S26 FE and the A-series sit at the value end of the table. These are excellent phones, but their trade-in credits are proportionally smaller: a mid-range phone that launched at $600 cannot command a $900 trade-in credit, and older A-series models often fetch only a modest credit toward a new device. For these phones, the best deal is often a carrier promotion that pays a flat credit for any working phone, rather than Samsung’s model-based scale.
Samsung vs carrier vs retailer: where to trade
Samsung’s own store usually offers the best instant credit for recent Galaxy models, especially during launch promotions. Carriers can beat that headline number — but as bill credits over two or three years, which only helps if you stay on that carrier and plan. Retailers are worth checking during sales events, when a gift card or bundle can push the total package past both. The right move is to get quotes from all three before committing: Samsung’s estimator takes minutes, and carrier quotes are available online without starting a purchase.
How to get the maximum Samsung trade-in value
Trade during a launch window. Samsung’s boosted credits appear when a new flagship launches and fade afterwards, so timing your upgrade to a launch can be worth hundreds of dollars. Keep the phone in the best condition you can: a flawless screen, a working battery and the original charger all help, and any crack will cost you. Remove your accounts and factory reset the device before sending it in — a phone that still carries a Google lock will be rejected. Check the storage tier, too: higher-storage models sometimes earn slightly more. And compare Samsung’s quote against your carrier’s: a carrier’s bill-credit deal can look bigger on paper but pay out slowly, while Samsung’s instant credit cuts the price today.
What your Galaxy is worth: the 2026 picture
In short: recent flagships lead, with the S25 Ultra and Z Fold 7 at $900 in launch promotions and the S24 Ultra at $800. Each older generation steps down from there, foldables fall faster once they age, and mid-range models earn modest but real credits. For the exact live value of your specific model, storage and condition, run Samsung’s trade-in estimator — promotions change, and the number that matters is the one quoted for your phone today.
Before you trade, run through our phone selling checklist: back up your data, sign out of your accounts, and factory reset the device. And if you are weighing Samsung against other routes, our guide to where to trade in Samsung phones compares the options in detail.
FAQ
What is the Samsung trade-in value for a Galaxy S25 Ultra?
In Samsung’s Galaxy S26 launch promotions, a Galaxy S25 Ultra earned $900 in trade-in credit. Everyday values outside promotions are lower, so check Samsung’s estimator for the current quote.
What is the Samsung trade-in value for a Galaxy S24 Ultra?
A Galaxy S24 Ultra earned $800 in credit during the same Galaxy S26 launch promotion window.
Does Samsung accept cracked phones for trade-in?
Samsung accepts damaged phones in many cases, but a cracked screen or a phone that will not power on reduces the credit sharply and can disqualify some promotions. A flawless phone always earns the full quote.
Is Samsung trade-in better than carrier trade-in?
Samsung usually offers the best instant credit for recent Galaxy models, while carriers may offer a larger total as monthly bill credits over 24 to 36 months. Compare both before deciding.
When is the best time to trade in a Samsung phone?
During a flagship launch window, when Samsung boosts trade-in credits for recent models. Values are typically highest in the first weeks after a new Galaxy launch.
Sources: https://9to5google.com/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/705924 , https://cellularheros.us/where-to-trade-in-samsung-phones/ and https://cellularheros.us/phone-selling-checklist/