Samsung has started selling refurbished Galaxy S26, S26+ and S26 Ultra handsets through its Certified Re‑Newed programme in India, France, Germany and the UK. The move expands the scheme beyond the Galaxy S25 range and went live around the same time Apple launched the iPhone 18 on September 9, allowing Samsung to offer a lower‑cost flagship alternative to a pricier rival.
Galaxy S26 Certified Re‑Newed: checks, warranty and software updates
Every refurbished unit reportedly passes more than 100 quality checks, is wiped of prior data, fitted with genuine Samsung parts where required and reformatted before resale. Buyers may see minor cosmetic wear but Samsung says functionality is unaffected. Refurbished models typically cost about 15% less than new devices. Purchases come with the same two‑year warranty as new S26 devices except in India, where the warranty is one year, and retain the seven‑year update commitment attached to the S26 line.
Availability, configurations and markets
Stock levels, colour options and storage configurations vary by country. For example, India currently offers refurbished units of the S26 and S26 Ultra but not the S26+. Samsung also operates a Certified Re‑Newed programme in the US, but the S26 series is not available there yet; it is unclear whether Samsung plans to add S26 models to the US refurbished lineup.
Availability, warranty terms and configurations differ by market, so buyers should check local product pages for current stock and exact conditions.
