Samsung

Samsung will now buy your Galaxy phone even if you don’t buy a new one

Ben Schoon | Jan 16 2025 - 7:30 am PT

Samsung’s generous trade-in programs have made it much easier to buy a new Galaxy phone in recent years, and now the company is launching a “year-round” program that will let you “trade in” your Galaxy device even if you don’t intend to buy a new one.

The new “Year-Round Galaxy Trade-In Program” will allow Galaxy owners to “trade in” their smartphone at any time. The difference between this and a standard trade-in, though, is that customers can do this even if they’re not buying a new Samsung smartphone.

Samsung explains:

Samsung Electronics today announced a new Galaxy Trade-In Program, which allows trade-in of Samsung Galaxy devices at any time of the year on Samsung.com, even if customers do not purchase a new phone. The program underscores Samsung’s commitment to boost the value of Galaxy devices for users in long-term by continuing to provide not only the premium quality of Galaxy phones, but the amazing savings being unlocked though the simple and secure trade-in process.

Samsung doesn’t specify how this trade-in value is paid out if users aren’t buying a new device, though. On a website Samsung links to regarding the program, a translation of the page mentions to “check” with the alternate place of purchase, implying that the value may come in a credit that can only be used in select locations. However, that page doesn’t align with everything Samsung has mentioned, so it may not be fully relevant and waiting on an update. The program is “managed and operated” by Likewize, a US-based company offering insurance, repairs, and other services for consumer tech products.

There are still a lot of questions about this program that Samsung hasn’t provided firm answers for, but we’ll be curious to see how this develops.

For now, the program is in a pilot test in Korea and France, but is set to expand over the course of 2025. Samsung notes that only select devices are eligible for the time being, including Galaxy S23, S22, S21, S20 series, Z Fold 5, Fold 4, Fold 3, Flip 5, Flip 4 and Flip 3.

This comes as Samsung is gearing up for the launch of the Galaxy S25 series, set to make its official debut next week.

Samsung has reservations open now for the Galaxy S25 series, with a $50 credit when you pre-order and up to $1,200+ in savings. Reservations are free, and there’s no obligation to actually buy a device if you sign up, but there’s no other time you can get that $50 credit.