Samsung begins selling refurbished Galaxy S26, S26+ and S26 Ultra models

Samsung has begun selling refurbished Galaxy S26, S26+, and S26 Ultra handsets through its own Certified Re-Newed scheme, now live in India, France, Germany and the UK after previously covering only the Galaxy S25 range. The timing does not appear to be a coincidence, with the product pages going live around the same time Apple launched its iPhone 18 on September 9, allowing Samsung to position a cheaper flagship against a costlier rival. 

The costs savings of purchasing a refurbished model over a brand new model are usually around 15%. Every unit reportedly passes over 100 quality checks, is wiped of prior data, fitted with genuine Samsung parts where needed, and formatted before resale. Buyers get the same two-year warranty (except in India, where buyers only get one year), plus the seven-year update commitment attached to the S26 line. Minor cosmetic wear may remain, though Samsung says functionality is unaffected.

Availability of stock differs by country; India, for example, currently only offers refurbished units of the S26 or S26 Ultra (no S26+). Availability of color options and storage configurations also differ from country to country. Lastly, Samsung also operates a Certified Re-Newed program in the US, but the S26 series is not available there yet. Whether Samsung is planning to also offer refurbished S26 models there is unclear.