I've compared every Samsung Galaxy S26 pre-order offer in Australia — here's why I'd skip the telcos for the best deal | Tech Radar

Overview

I've compared every Samsung Galaxy S26 pre-order offer in Australia — here's why I'd skip the telcos for the best deal

Telcos are not the only way to pay monthly instalments anymore

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Samsung’s new Galaxy S26 series of smartphones officially launched on February 26, 2026, with plenty of pre-order specials to go around from several Australian retailers, telcos and from the brand’s local store.

These specials include free storage upgrades, discounts when you bundle an accessory (like the new Galaxy Buds 4 and Buds 4 Pro), and even a chance to score some free concert tickets.

After comparing all the retailers’ and telcos’ offerings, I’ve found Amazon Australia has the cheapest pre-order deal across all three Galaxy S26 handsets — provided that you are an Amazon Prime member.

Through Amazon, you’ll get a free storage upgrade from 256GB to 512GB if you order any time before 11:59 AEDT on March 11, plus an extra AU$300 off your shopping cart automatically with Prime.

The base model Galaxy S26 gets a larger 6.3-inch screen (up from the S25’s 6.2 inches), while also getting a larger 4,300m Ah battery (compared to the S25’s 4,000m Ah). Amazon is offering a free storage upgrade from 256GB to 512GB (the 256GB is listed for sale for the same price so make sure you select the 512GB option), which represents a AU

Need more screen real estate than the 6.3-inch base Galaxy S26? Get the 6.7-inch Galaxy S26 Plus for the same pre-order price as the Galaxy S26 at competing retailers when you shop on Amazon and use your Prime subscription. Be sure to select the 512GB version to get the best deal.

The feature-packed Galaxy S26 Ultra will also get a free storage upgrade from 256GB to 512GB, while Prime subscribers also get an extra AU

You can save even more if you’re trading in your current phone — yes, you can absolutely do that on Amazon too — with the amount of (additional) savings based on the device you’re sending to the online retailer.

For example, Amazon’s estimated value for a Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra with minimal scratches is AU$940. You can either redeem that amount as an instant gift card that can be applied to a new Galaxy S26 series device, or a deferred gift card for a later purchase on Amazon.

Paying an outright four-figure sum, while the cheapest option to score an S26 device, can be daunting for some. Which is where paying monthly instalments comes in, and the most common way to do so would be with a telco.

That’s especially true now as Samsung Australia has started to offer flexible financing options for up to 24 months. As a result, the telco plans are even less compelling in comparison, as you then get the freedom to pair your new device with one of the best SIM-only plans.

I’ve compared the price of the cheapest telco plan I’ve found on the Galaxy S26 series — which is from Vodafone — with Samsung’s interest-free payment plans. Given that Samsung is only offering the 512GB and 1TB variants as part of the brand’s pre-order offer, I haven't included the 256GB models.

I have, however, added the 1TB Galaxy S26 Ultra as there's an exclusive offer for our readers only on that variant — use the checkout code S26TECH on the Samsung Australia website to take off an extra AU

To make the comparison more accurate, I’m bundling the Galaxy S26 handsets bought from Samsung with our choice for the cheapest SIM-only plan, which is TPG’s Small Plan with 25GB of data at AU

The table above shows that buying from Samsung directly is cheaper across the board compared to the cheapest telco deal from Vodafone, but there is even more opportunity to save if you switch your SIM-only plan to a different provider after the TPG Small Plan’s promotional rate expires after six months.

If you’re interested in taking this route, check out our best SIM-only plans to find the right deal for you, whether it’s for more mobile data or a lower overall cost.

Like the Amazon deal above, Samsung Australia also offers a trade-in program, but it’s exclusive to Australian stock of most smartphones, tablets, wearables and audio accessories.

Long story short: if you want the best possible deal for the Samsung Galaxy S26 range, buying outright from Amazon is hands down the cheapest (you could opt to pay via Afterpay too for the instalment route). For more manageable monthly instalments, you’re no longer forced to go through a telco and stay locked into a lengthy contract, thanks to Samsung’s financing options.

Nico is an experienced writer and journalist, having previously written for business titles across Australia.  While mainly focusing on phones and finding deals and coupon codes at Tech Radar Australia, he is also a keen cyclist and occasional hiker, so he also loves related tech like smartwatches and bike computers. Outside of tech, Nico is also a politics, basketball and movie obsessive.

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Key Takeaways

• I've compared every Samsung Galaxy S26 pre-order offer in Australia — here's why I'd skip the telcos for the best deal

• Telcos are not the only way to pay monthly instalments anymore

• When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission

• Samsung’s new Galaxy S26 series of smartphones officially launched on February 26, 2026, with plenty of pre-order specials to go around from several Australian retailers, telcos and from the brand’s local store

• These specials include free storage upgrades, discounts when you bundle an accessory (like the new Galaxy Buds 4 and Buds 4 Pro), and even a chance to score some free concert tickets