Samsung is making its latest flagship smartphones more accessible to buyers by bringing the Galaxy S26 and Galaxy S26 Ultra to its Certified Re-Newed program.
The move gives customers an opportunity to own Samsung's high-end Galaxy smartphones at significantly lower prices while still receiving a device that has gone through Samsung's inspection and refurbishment process. According to reports, the renewed models are available at up to 85% of their original launch price, depending on the model and configuration.
What Is Samsung Certified Re-Newed?
Samsung's Certified Re-Newed program is designed for customers who want flagship hardware without paying the full price of a brand-new device.
Before being sold again, eligible smartphones are inspected, repaired and tested. Samsung says the program is intended to ensure that renewed devices meet its quality standards.
Customers purchasing the certified renewed Galaxy S26 models also receive a one-year warranty, adding additional protection compared with buying an ordinary used smartphone.
Galaxy S26 Ultra Remains a Premium Flagship
The Galaxy S26 Ultra continues to sit at the top of Samsung's conventional smartphone lineup.
Samsung introduced the S26 series with a strong focus on artificial intelligence, camera capabilities and performance. The S26 Ultra also introduced Samsung's built-in Privacy Display, designed to help prevent people nearby from viewing sensitive information on the screen.
The phone is powered by a customized Snapdragon platform and includes upgraded thermal management to support demanding AI workloads. Samsung claims the S26 Ultra delivers up to a 19% CPU performance improvement and a 39% improvement in NPU performance compared with its previous generation.
Galaxy AI Is Still a Major Focus
Samsung's Galaxy S26 lineup was designed around a more proactive approach to AI.
Features such as Now Nudge can understand what is happening on the screen and suggest relevant actions. For example, if someone asks a user to share photos from a trip, the phone can suggest opening the relevant photos in Gallery.
Samsung has also expanded Now Brief, which provides personalized information and reminders based on the user's activities and context.
The Galaxy S26 series also combines Samsung's own AI capabilities with services from Google Gemini and Perplexity, allowing users to perform certain multi-step tasks using natural language.
A Smart Option for Flagship Buyers?
The arrival of the S26 series in Samsung's Certified Re-Newed program could make the phones considerably more attractive to buyers who previously considered them too expensive.
Instead of purchasing an older Galaxy model to save money, customers can now look at a certified renewed S26 or S26 Ultra while still getting relatively recent flagship hardware and a Samsung-backed warranty.
However, buyers should compare the renewed price against current discounts on brand-new Galaxy phones before making a decision. Samsung and retailers frequently offer trade-in promotions and other discounts on flagship models.
Samsung Faces a New Foldable Challenge
The renewed S26 announcement comes at an interesting time for Samsung's smartphone business.
Samsung has dominated the modern foldable smartphone market for years, but Apple has now entered the category with its first foldable iPhone. The move puts additional pressure on Samsung to maintain its technological advantage.
Samsung has responded by highlighting its years of experience with foldable devices and the development of increasingly thin and lightweight Galaxy Z models.
What This Means for Galaxy Fans
Samsung's Certified Re-Newed expansion gives consumers another way to buy premium Galaxy hardware without paying the original launch price.
For users who want Galaxy AI, flagship cameras, powerful performance and Samsung's latest software experience, a certified renewed Galaxy S26 or S26 Ultra could become an interesting alternative to buying new.
As flagship smartphone prices continue to rise, certified renewed programs could also become increasingly important for manufacturers looking to make premium devices accessible to a wider audience.
With the Galaxy S26 series now entering Samsung's Certified Re-Newed program, buyers have a new way to get Samsung's latest flagship technology for considerably less than the original launch price.