Samsung has introduced a new purchase model in India called the Galaxy Forever Program for its flagship smartphones. The plan allows buyers to pay only about 50 percent of the phone’s price during the first year, after which they can upgrade to a new Galaxy device, keep the phone by paying the remaining amount, or return it.
The program is currently available for the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra and other phones in the Samsung Galaxy S26 series through Samsung’s official website in India.
While the scheme promises affordability and easy upgrades, it shows how smartphone companies are trying to test new ways to get customers for flagship models.
Under this program, customers finance the device through Samsung Finance+. They only need to pay half of the price over 12 interest-free monthly installments.
For example, Samsung shared the payment structure for the Galaxy S26 Ultra (256GB). The phone has a price of Rs. 139,999. The program assumes a future buyback value of about Rs. 69,999, which means customers only pay the remaining half through EMIs. This results in a monthly payment of about Rs. 6,583, which also includes the program fee.
During this period, the device is covered by Samsung Care+, which protects against accidental damage and liquid damage.
After one year, users get three choices. They can upgrade to the next Galaxy S series phone, return the device, or keep the phone by paying the remaining amount.
For upgrades or returns, the device must be in working condition, must power on, and must not have been tampered with.
Although the Galaxy Forever Program sounds new, Samsung has experimented with similar ideas in the past. The company previously launched Galaxy Forever and Galaxy Assured plans in India around the time of the Galaxy S20 series. Those programs allowed buyers to pay around 60 percent of the device price and either return the phone after a year or pay the remaining amount to keep it.
Samsung has also introduced upgrade style purchase plans for televisions and other products to encourage consumers to upgrade more frequently.
Samsung is not the only company experimenting with this model. Apple has been offering the Apple iPhone Upgrade Program in several markets for years, where customers pay monthly installments and can upgrade to a new iPhone every year. Google has also experimented with upgrade plans for Google Pixel devices in some regions, including India through financing partners.
In India, several third-party retailers and e-commerce platforms have also launched similar schemes. For example, Flipkart previously offered a Smart Upgrade Plan that allowed customers to pay around 70 percent of a Samsung phone’s price and upgrade after one year by returning the device.
These programs are becoming more common because smartphone prices have increased sharply over the past few years.
Flagship smartphones now easily cost more than Rs. 1 lakh. Convincing users to upgrade every year has become difficult, especially in markets like India, where many people keep their phones for three to four years.
For users who upgrade every year and prefer always having the latest flagship, the program can make upgrades easier. They do not need to sell their old phone in the second-hand market, and the upgrade process becomes simpler.
However, for people who keep their phone for three or four years, the program may not make much financial sense. In many cases, paying the full price of the phone and selling it later through resale platforms could still offer better value.
It is also important to know that you don’t actually own the phone, but you are leasing it. You are basically paying for the right to use the latest device and upgrade regularly.
