Samsung Festive Deals: Is This the Best Time to Buy a Galaxy Phone?

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Published On: 15 October 2026 | 13:53 IST

If you have been putting off buying a new Samsung phone, this might be the moment to stop waiting. Samsung has lined up some of its strongest offers of the year across the Galaxy S26 series, the new Galaxy Z Fold8 series, and the Galaxy A series. With Diwali approaching in less than a month, this is also the window most of us use to upgrade our own phones or pick one up as a gift for family members.

What makes this year’s deals stand out is how the offers stack up. Instant cashback, exchange value for your old phone, and no cost EMI spread across as many as 40 months bring even the Galaxy S26 Ultra down to a monthly payment that would have sounded unrealistic a few years ago. Below, we go through each phone, what its festive deal looks like, and who it suits best, before answering the big question: should you buy now, or wait.

Foldable deals: the Galaxy Z Fold8 series

Samsung’s latest foldables arrived in July, so this is the first festive season for both the Galaxy Z Fold8 and the new Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra. If you have been curious about switching to a foldable, the festive offers make this a good time to take the plunge.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8

Festive deal price: 40 months no cost EMI starting at ₹2,025 a month, inclusive of ₹5,000 instant cashback and old device exchange. The Galaxy Z Fold8 launched at ₹1,79,999 for the 12GB and 256GB model, and Samsung says it is the world’s lightest book-style foldable phone yet at 201g, which matters for a phone you carry all day. Its 7.6-inch main display uses a 4:3 aspect ratio that suits videos, documents, and split-screen apps, while the 5.5-inch cover screen has a 10:16 ratio. Both screens refresh at up to 120Hz, and Samsung rates the main display at up to 3,000 nits of peak brightness.

It runs on the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy with 12GB of RAM, or 16GB on the 1TB model. The rear cameras are a 50MP main camera with OIS and a 50MP ultra-wide, with 2x optical-quality zoom and 8K video recording, and there are 10MP cameras on both the cover screen and the inner display. Dual Recording lets you capture both sides of a moment at once, and My FanCam keeps your chosen subject in the frame.

The 4,800mAh battery is rated for up to 26 hours of video playback, with 45W wired charging taking it to 63 per cent in around 30 minutes, plus 20W wireless charging. The phone measures 4.5mm unfolded and 9.7mm folded, carries an IP48 rating, and gets up to seven OS upgrades, with security updates until July 2033.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra

Festive deal price: ₹40 months no cost EMI starting at ₹2,525 a month, inclusive of ₹5,000 instant cashback and old device exchange The Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra is the first Ultra model in the Galaxy Z series and Samsung’s most premium phone this festive season. It launched at ₹1,99,999 for the 12GB and 256GB model. Samsung says it is the thinnest Galaxy Z Fold yet, at 4.1mm unfolded and 8.9mm folded, and it weighs 215g.

The big draw is the 8-inch QXGA+ main display, paired with a 6.5-inch FHD+ cover screen, so the phone is just as easy to use closed as it is open. Both screens refresh at up to 120Hz. Samsung has used a titanium-based display structure it calls Flex Titanium to reduce the visible crease and improve durability, and the front glass is Corning Gorilla Glass Ceramic 3.

The camera system is a clear step up from the Fold8. A 200MP main camera is joined by a 50MP ultra-wide and a 10MP telephoto with 3x optical zoom, and the phone records 8K video using the APV codec, with Cine LUT tools for creators who want more control over colour. It runs on the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy, with up to 16GB of RAM and 1TB of storage. The 5,000mAh battery is rated for up to 27 hours of video playback, and 45W charging takes it to 67 per cent in around 30 minutes. On the large screen, Galaxy AI features such as Gemini Notebook, which turns documents and audio into summaries, and Now Nudge, which suggests next steps like adding plans from a chat to your calendar, really come into their own.

Flagship deals: the Galaxy S26 series

Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra

Festive deal: 40 months no cost EMI starting at ₹2,000 a month, inclusive of ₹15,000 instant cashback and old device exchange.

The Galaxy S26 Ultra is Samsung’s most capable phone to date in the series, and it launched in India at ₹1,39,999 for the 12GB and 256GB model. Bringing that down to ₹2,000 a month changes the conversation completely, as it puts a top-end flagship within reach of buyers who would normally shop a segment lower.

For that, you get a 6.9-inch QHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with a 120Hz refresh rate and 2,600 nits of peak brightness. It is also world’s first smartphone to feature Privacy Display, which, when switched on, limits what people beside you can see from side angles, so you can check your bank balance on a crowded metro without a privacy screen protector. Powering it all is the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy, with 12GB of RAM, or 16GB on the 1TB model.

The cameras are still the main reason people buy an Ultra. A 200MP main camera is joined by a 50MP ultra-wide, a 50MP telephoto with 5x optical zoom, and a 10MP telephoto with 3x optical zoom, with optical-quality zoom at 2x and 10x and digital zoom of up to 100x. Samsung has given the Ultra wider apertures this year for better low-light photos and videos, and it records video in up to 8K. The S Pen is built in, the 5,000mAh battery is rated for up to 31 hours of video playback, and 60W Super Fast Charging 3.0 takes it to 75 per cent in around 30 minutes. It is 7.9mm thick, weighs 214g, and carries an IP68 rating. Samsung promises seven generations of OS upgrades and seven years of security updates, so this is a phone you can comfortably keep for years.

Samsung Galaxy S26

Festive deal: 40 months no cost EMI starting at ₹1,250 a month, inclusive of ₹13,000 instant cashback and old device exchange.

If the Ultra feels like more phone than you need, the Galaxy S26 packs much of the same flagship experience into a compact body. It launched at ₹87,999 for the 12GB and 256GB model, and the ₹13,000 instant cashback makes a big dent in that.

The S26 has a 6.3-inch FHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with a 120Hz refresh rate and the same 2,600-nit peak brightness as the Ultra. In India, it runs on Samsung’s Exynos 2600 chipset, paired with 12GB of RAM and 256GB or 512GB of storage. At 7.2mm thick and 167g, it is the lightest phone on this list, and it pairs Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 on the front and back with an Armor Aluminum frame and an IP68 rating.

On the back, a 50MP main camera with optical image stabilisation sits alongside a 12MP ultra-wide and a 10MP telephoto with 3x optical zoom, with 2x optical-quality zoom, up to 30x digital zoom, and 8K video recording. The 4,300mAh battery is rated for up to 30 hours of video playback and charges to 55 per cent in around 30 minutes with a 25W adapter. You also get Galaxy AI features such as Now Nudge, Photo Assist, and Circle to Search with Google, along with the same seven-year update promise as the Ultra. If you want a flagship that is easy to use with one hand, ₹1,250 a month makes this an easy pick.

Samsung Galaxy S26 FE

Festive deal: 40 months no cost EMI starting at ₹950 a month, inclusive of ₹7,000 instant cashback and old device exchange.

The Galaxy S26 FE deal is one of the most exciting of the season. For under ₹1,000 a month, you get a phone that launched just last month at ₹79,999 for the 8GB and 256GB model, which also makes it the newest phone on this list.

The FE focuses on the features most people use every day. It has a 6.7-inch FHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with a 120Hz refresh rate and 1,900 nits of peak brightness, and it runs on the 3nm Exynos 2500. The camera setup punches well above the monthly price, with a 50MP main camera with OIS, a 12MP ultra-wide, and an 8MP telephoto with 3x optical zoom, plus a 12MP front camera. Samsung has also added handy video tools such as My FanCam, which keeps a chosen person centred in your video, and Super Steady with Horizontal Lock for steadier footage.

The 4,900mAh battery is rated for up to 29 hours of video playback, and 45W wired charging takes it to 69 per cent in around 30 minutes, with 15W wireless charging and Wireless PowerShare on top. Despite the bigger battery, the phone is just 7.4mm thick and weighs 193g, with Corning Gorilla Glass Victus+ and an IP68 rating. It runs Android 17 with One UI 9 out of the box, and Samsung promises seven generations of OS upgrades and seven years of security updates. If you want the flagship Galaxy experience without paying flagship money, this is the deal to look at first.

Flagship features at non-flagship price points: the Galaxy A series

Galaxy A series phones have been some of the best-selling smartphones in the whole world for several years now. The latest three phones in the series here come with six generations of OS upgrades and six years of security updates, which is a big reason to consider them if you tend to keep a phone for several years.

Samsung Galaxy A57

Festive deal price: ₹40 months no cost EMI starting at ₹787 a month, inclusive of ₹8,500 instant cashback and old device exchange The Galaxy A57 is the most premium of the three, and its design shows it. At 6.9mm thick and 179g, it is the slimmest non-folding phone on this list, with Corning Gorilla Glass Victus+ on the front and back and an IP68 rating. The 6.7-inch FHD+ Super AMOLED+ display refreshes at up to 120Hz, and Vision Booster keeps it readable outdoors.

The triple camera setup has a 50MP main camera with OIS, a 12MP ultra-wide, and a 5MP macro, with a 12MP front camera and 4K video recording. Samsung’s Awesome Intelligence features include Best Face, which picks better expressions for group photos, Auto Trim for quick video edits, Object Eraser, AI Select, and Circle to Search with Google. The 5,000mAh battery is rated for up to 29 hours of video playback, and Super Fast Charging 2.0 takes it to 60 per cent in around 30 minutes. In India, it comes with 8GB or 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage.

Samsung Galaxy A37

Festive deal price: ₹40 months no cost EMI starting at ₹650 a month, inclusive of ₹4,000 instant cashback and old device exchange The Galaxy A37 brings much of the A57 experience to a lower price. It has a 6.7-inch FHD+ Super AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate and Vision Booster, Corning Gorilla Glass Victus+ on the front and back, and an IP68 rating, which is reassuring at this price. It is 7.4mm thick and weighs 196g.

The cameras include a 50MP main sensor with OIS, an 8MP ultra-wide, and a 5MP macro, plus a 12MP front camera and 4K video recording. Like the A57, it has a 5,000mAh battery rated for up to 29 hours of video playback, and Super Fast Charging 2.0 that reaches 60 per cent in around 30 minutes. Everyday AI tools such as Voice Transcription, AI Select, Object Eraser, and Circle to Search with Google are all on board. It is available with 8GB of RAM and 128GB or 256GB of storage, or with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage.

Samsung Galaxy A27

Festive deal price: ₹40 months no cost EMI starting at ₹937 a month, inclusive of ₹2,500 instant cashback and old device exchange The Galaxy A27 is the most affordable way into this year’s Samsung festive deals. It runs on the 4nm Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 and comes in 6GB and 128GB, 8GB and 128GB, and 8GB and 256GB variants, with microSD support for up to 2TB if you need more space for photos and videos.

Its 6.7-inch FHD+ Super AMOLED display refreshes at 120Hz and is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass Victus+, which also covers the back. The 50MP main camera has OIS and is joined by a 5MP ultra-wide and a 2MP macro, with a 12MP front camera and 4K video recording. The 5,000mAh battery is rated for up to 23 hours of video playback, and Super Fast Charging takes it to 45 per cent in around 30 minutes. It carries an IP64 rating, and AI features include Object Eraser, Edit Suggestions, Circle to Search with Google, and Live Transcription in English, Hindi, and Gujarati. For students, first-time smartphone buyers, or anyone who wants a dependable everyday phone, it is a sensible choice.

Samsung festive deals at a glance

When is the best time to buy Samsung phones?

For most buyers, right now is the best time to buy Samsung Galaxy phones, and there are four good reasons for it.

Festive offers stack up: festive sales are usually when instant cashback, exchange value, and no cost EMI all come together. On the Galaxy S26 series, that combination brings the monthly cost down to between ₹950 and ₹2,000 over 40 months, which is hard to ignore.

Current generation phones: the Galaxy S26 FE launched in September, the Galaxy Z Fold8 series and Galaxy A27 arrived in July, and the rest of the line-up launched earlier this year. You are buying Samsung’s latest models, not clearing out old stock.

Longevity: The Galaxy S26 series and the Z Fold8 series get up to seven OS upgrades, and the Galaxy A series gets six, with security updates for every phone on this list running into the 2030s. A phone you buy this Diwali will stay current for years.

Perfect timing: With Diwali on November 8th, buying during the sale leaves enough time for delivery, setup, and moving your data across before the celebrations begin, or for wrapping it up as a gift.

Tips to get the best festive price

A little planning goes a long way during the festive sales.

• Check the final price at checkout: cashback and bank offers depend on the card you use and can change during the sale.
• Get an exchange quote first: your old phone’s value depends on its model and condition, and it directly affects the effective price.
• Read the EMI terms: check which cards or lenders qualify for no cost EMI, and whether any processing fee applies.
• Confirm the variant: make sure the deal you are looking at applies to the storage and colour you want.

Whether you want the Galaxy S26 Ultra’s cameras, a foldable that doubles as a tablet, or a reliable Galaxy A phone, this festive season has a Samsung deal for almost every budget. If you have been waiting for the right moment, it is here.