Want a Galaxy S7? Samsung might offer its own easy upgrade program when the S7 launches

By David Curry January 27, 2016

Samsung Galaxy Note 5

Samsung may take some ‘inspiration’ from Apple’s iPhone upgrade program. The company is reportedly planning to launch its own upgrade program in South Korea alongside the Galaxy S7, which is projected to arrive in March.

The upgrade program will apparently work much like Apple’s own program, which allows customers to pay for a smartphone over a two-year period and upgrade to the latest model every twelve months. Unlike normal carrier contracts, iPhones bought on Apple’s program come unlocked, and customers don’t have to pay early upgrade fees when a new model launches.

The Electronic Times report doesn’t say if all of Samsung’s smartphones will be available on the upgrade program, or if it will be limited to the top-tier models like the Galaxy S and Galaxy Note lineups. Assuming the program launches alongside the Galaxy S7, it would make sense for Samsung to include that line of devices first, but it could add more phones to the lineup as time goes on.

Apple also provides AppleCare+ with its upgrade program, which gives two years of hardware repairs for up to two incidents of accidental damage. The Reuters report does not mention if Samsung will provide a similar warranty with hardware repairs for smartphones sold through the rumored phone upgrade program. Samsung has not commented on the report, either.

Although South Korea will reportedly be the launch country for Samsung’s program, we wouldn’t be surprised if it eventually comes to the United States. After all, the Gear S2 and Samsung Pay both launched first in South Korea and came to the U.S. a few months later. Samsung seems to use South Korea as testing ground to see if a product is well received, before launching it in bigger markets like the U.S. and Europe.

We’ll keep you updated on the program as we learn more about it.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics

Former Digital Trends Contributor

David has been writing about technology for several years, following the latest trends and covering the largest events. He is…

Mobile

How the Galaxy S23 copies the iPhone, and why it’s great

Holding the green Samsung Galaxy S23.

Samsung has courted a ton of flak in the past for copying Apple, but in 2023, that penchant for imitating its archrival just might prove to be helpful for smartphone shoppers. Soon after revealing the asking price of the Galaxy S23 trio, Samsung announced that its previous flagship is officially getting a price cut — rather than getting axed from retail shelves.

Apple has been doing the same for years, and it has actually proved to be a wise move for everyone. With a lowered asking price worth a hundred dollars or more, buyers can digest the premium of spending on an iPhone with a lighter hit on their wallets. Of course, it also helps that buying a previous-generation iPhone doesn’t come with any serious FOMO, because Apple is usually quite modest with generation-over-generation upgrades.

Mobile

Samsung’s One UI 5 beta is already available for some Galaxy S22 owners

Purple Samsung Galaxy S22 front and back.

Samsung's One UI 5 beta is beginning to roll out for select Galaxy S22 owners via the Samsung Members app. Today, Samsung announced the early rollout would be exclusive to Germany, South Korea, and the U.S. — but it quickly pulled the announcement from its website without a replacement (likely a sign that the post went up earlier than it should have). While Samsung works on getting its timing right, folks who've gotten early access to One UI 5 have taken to Twitter to show off the new features.

As expected, One UI 5 puts customization at the forefront of the update. Now, Galaxy users will have nearly endless options when it comes to how they want their UI to look. Early examples that we've seen on Twitter include things such as expanded color options, widget stacking, and more ways than ever before to customize notification settings. All of this was detailed in the pulled presser that Samsung officially posted earlier today, in addition to details regarding other new features coming with the update.

Mobile

Samsung’s self-repair program launches for Galaxy S21, S20, and Tab S7 Plus

Vision Booster on the Galaxy S22 Ultra, with the S21 Ultra.

Earlier this year, Samsung announced that it would allow Galaxy device owners the option to repair their gadgets themselves. A few months later, the company's self-repair program has finally gone live. Launching for the Galaxy S21 and S20 lines of smartphones, as well as the Tab S7 Plus, device owners won't need to discard their smartphones and tablets if they're malfunctioning. Instead, they can purchase repair parts and tools for quick, do-it-yourself fixes.

While device repair might sound like a daunting endeavor, Samsung is providing full access to online repair guides that give step-by-step instructions on how to fix specific issues and replace crucial elements. Additionally, replacement parts and repair tools will be available through a handful of retailers, including iFixit, Samsung 837, and Samsung retail stores.