Samsung has launched a new programme in India called Galaxy Forever, and it is aimed at making its flagship smartphones easier to own without paying the full price upfront. The Galaxy S26 Ultra and Galaxy S26+ are the two devices on offer, and the programme lets you take one home by paying only half the cost to start. Here’s everything you need to know about it.
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What the Programme Offers
The core idea behind Galaxy Forever is simple in that you pay 50 percent of the device cost spread across 12 no-cost EMIs, and after a year, you can either return the phone, keep it, or upgrade to the next Galaxy flagship. There is no complicated paperwork around the return since Samsung is backing it with a no-questions-asked policy under Samsung Care+.
Here is how the numbers look for this scheme:
- Galaxy S26 Ultra: A monthly EMI of Rs 5,833.29 plus a programme fee of Rs 749.92, which brings your monthly payout to Rs 6,583.21.
- Galaxy S26+: A monthly EMI of Rs 4,999.96 plus the same Rs 749.92 programme fee, totalling Rs 5,749.88 per month.
The programme fee covers Samsung Care+ for 13 months, which includes accidental and liquid damage protection with zero deductibles, valued at Rs 13,999. The payment options here include credit card, no-cost EMI on Samsung.com, and Samsung Finance+ at both Samsung.com and Samsung Experience Stores.
After the 12 months are up, credit card users can either return the phone for the assured 50 percent buyback or pay the remaining 50 percent in another 12 no-cost EMIs. Samsung Finance+ users simply return and upgrade to the next flagship or pay the balance 50 percent in the 13th month to keep the device.
Galaxy Forever is available on Samsung.com and across 1,500 plus Samsung Experience Stores across India, and Samsung has also extended the programme to select corporate employees and students through its Corporate+ and Student+ online stores.
Why Samsung might be doing this
The timing of Galaxy Forever does not seem to be accidental. Component costs across the smartphone industry have gone up significantly in 2026, driven in large part by the global memory shortage. High demand for DRAM and NAND flash from AI-focused companies has pushed up prices across the board, and smartphone makers have had little choice but to pass some of that cost on to buyers.
For Samsung, whose flagship devices already sit at a premium price point, that added cost pressure makes a programme like Galaxy Forever a smart adoption move. Rather than dropping the price of the Galaxy S26 Ultra and Galaxy S26+ outright, Samsung is instead making the entry point easier to stomach by splitting the cost over time and building in a return option. It lowers the barrier for someone sitting on the fence about spending over a lakh on a phone without Samsung having to compromise on the pricing of the device itself.
We had flagged earlier in the year that brands would need to find creative ways to manage the cost conversation with buyers in 2026, and Galaxy Forever fits that prediction well. It would not be surprising to see other OEMs follow with similar ownership or upgrade programmes as the year goes on, especially as new launches approach and the memory situation shows no signs of resolving anytime soon.
What this means for you
If you have been on the fence about buying a Galaxy S26 Ultra or S26 Plus because of the price, Galaxy Forever makes the entry point a lot easier to manage. Paying around Rs 6,500 a month is a more reasonable ask than putting down over a lakh upfront, and the included Samsung Care+ cover means you are not taking on extra risk with a premium device.
The flexibility at the end of 12 months is also pretty useful. If you like upgrading every year, this programme is built for you. Use the phone, return it, and move to the next Galaxy without the hassle of selling your old device. If you want to keep it, that option is there too.
All that being said, the programme fee adds up to around Rs 9,000 over the year, so if you plan to hold on to the phone long-term, a straightforward no-cost EMI plan might still be cheaper. Galaxy Forever suits a specific kind of buyer, and if that sounds like you, it is worth a look on Samsung.com or at your nearest Samsung Experience Store.
