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In the Samsung world there have been two notable developments in recent days. First, the brand launched the very expensive Galaxy Z TriFold on the market, apparently without much fanfare. Secondly, this device sold out quickly; in fact, within a few hours.
This is quite unusual for Samsung devices, especially since there were none of the typical trade-in offers normally seen on these devices. Apparently, a lot of people were happy to shell out $2,899 upfront for the Galaxy Z TriFold without even having to trade in an old device for a discount.
If you’re wondering how this could affect the upcoming Galaxy S26 series, I’m pretty sure we won’t see a repeat of the TriFold launch. As someone who has been covering these Samsung product launches for over five years, I can tell you that the TriFold launch was a pretty unique, if low-key, event.
The Galaxy Z TriFold was an unusual launch
One of the telltale signs that Samsung had something different planned with the launch of the TriFold is that the brand did not run its usual pre-order campaign for the device.
This is one of Samsung’s flagship initiatives to launch an email registration campaign ahead of the launch to generate excitement around the new model. Typically, a few features are hinted at here and there without revealing any specific details. Of course, everyone knows which models will be released: Samsung, like Apple, continues to stick to its usual release schedule.
The TriFold was quite unusual in that Samsung announced the device, gave time for the launch, and even told us the price before launch. This time around, the device wasn’t even offered for pre-order, although I think a select few potential customers got early access through the Samsung app.
In my opinion, the entire TriFold launch felt like a soft launch or even a beta. I can’t imagine the brand sold many of these devices for a whopping $2,899, so it was probably a fairly limited run to prove that the TriFold concept has staying power.
I hope Samsung follows the plan with the S26
When it comes to the upcoming Galaxy S26, I hope Samsung returns to its proven methods. There may not be a pre-order campaign, but the brand will almost certainly have a small pre-order window with significant trade-in discounts, and unlike the TriFold, you can expect the devices to be available on major carriers as well.
As of this writing, Samsung hasn’t confirmed the price, but I’m guessing it will be between $800 and $1,299 if you buy a fully unlocked device. Discounts typically range from $800 to $1,100, with the biggest discounts on 24- and 36-month unlimited plans from major carriers.
The Galaxy TriFold is, as far as I know, the only phone launch from a major brand in recent times that deviates from the usual recovery scenario. I would be surprised if there wasn’t a huge discount on the device for any pre-order. Of course, when the Galaxy S26 comes out and there isn’t a huge trade-in discount, you can email me in a few weeks and quote this article.
More Galaxy S26 content on NewForTech
If you want a fantastic rundown of the most likely features and specifications of the upcoming phones, I recommend taking a look at our Galaxy S26 rumor review page. In short, we think the most likely updates will be a new privacy screen, a new chipset, and magnetic wireless charging. There is also a remote possibility that the devices can It debuts at a higher price due to the current RAM shortage crisis.
Expect many more updates and reports as we approach the end of February and wait for these devices to hit the market, including the best pre-order deals once the devices are finally available.
