Samsung is making old Galaxy phones more valuable, thanks to their trade-in programs.
Over the past year, the company has focused on offering higher trade-in prices rather than direct discounts on new models.
This has led to impressive valuations for older devices.
For instance, during a December promotion, Samsung offered top trade-in prices for older models, including:
- Galaxy Z Fold 3 – $1000
- Galaxy S22 Ultra 5G – $800
- Galaxy Note 20 Ultra 5G – $800
- Galaxy S9 – $500
- Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max – $800
- Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max – $700
While these offers are rare for cheaper phones like the Galaxy S24 Ultra, Samsung still provides competitive trade-in values for older handsets, such as:
- Galaxy S21 Ultra – $650
- Galaxy S20 Ultra – $400
- Galaxy S9 – $300
- Galaxy S8 Plus – $300
Samsung isn’t alone in this trend; Google and Apple also offer competitive trade-in prices.
However, Samsung often outpaces both companies, offering higher values for older devices, like paying $300 for any Pixel phone (compared to Google’s $110 for the Pixel 1).
These trade-in programs are significantly affecting the pricing strategies of third-party retailers, who cannot match the offers from manufacturers like Samsung.
This has resulted in more affordable upfront prices from retailers like Amazon and Best Buy, especially during sales events.
