The launch of the Samsung Galaxy S26 series has triggered a wave of aggressive promotions in the premium segment. The new flagship offers an advanced 200 MP HP6 sensor, leaving the competition behind in terms of optical specifications. Simultaneously, retailers are drastically lowering the prices of Galaxy S25 and iPhone 17 models, trying to attract customers with trade-in offers and limited clearance sales of warehouse stock on major e-commerce platforms.
Breakthrough in Mobile Photography
The use of a 200 MP HP6 sensor in the Galaxy S26 Ultra allows it to capture 40% more light than the competing iPhone 17 Pro Max.
Aggressive Price War
The launch of the new series caused a 44% price drop for the Galaxy S25 model and numerous promotions on Apple devices.
Buds4 Accessories Debut
Samsung's new headphones go on sale, directly competing with AirPods Pro 3 for the title of sound quality leader.
The launch of the latest smartphone line from the South Korean giant, the Galaxy S26 series, has become a catalyst for significant price reshuffling in the global mobile device market. Analysis of offers shows that the new Ultra flagship introduces groundbreaking solutions in mobile photography. Thanks to the use of a 200-megapixel HP6 sensor, the device is said to capture 40% more light than its direct competitor, the iPhone 17 Pro Max. Such aggressive technical specifications are forcing rivals, including Apple, into price defense, manifested by numerous promotions on models from the iPhone 17 and iPhone 15 families.The rivalry between Samsung and Apple in the flagship market dates back to 2010, when the launch of the first Galaxy S model began the era of bipolar dominance in the premium segment.Parallel to the S26 debut, major European retail chains, such as Cdiscount and Amazon, are seeing drastic price cuts on last year's models. The price of the Galaxy S25 has dropped by nearly 44% in some channels, and older flagships, like the S22 Ultra, are being offered with discounts of up to 80%. Retailers are applying a "warehouse clearance" mechanism, making budget Samsung models available from as low as 120 euros. Pre-order offers for the S26 are of particular interest, which, thanks to trade-in offers, allow purchasing the device significantly below the list price. At the same time, new accessories have debuted on the market, including the Galaxy Buds4 headphones, which are challenging the AirPods Pro 3 for supremacy in the high-quality audio segment.The strategy of aggressive price cuts for older models after the launch of a new generation is a standard market practice aimed at maintaining distributors' financial liquidity and quickly freeing up space for new products.This situation creates a unique window of opportunity for consumers who do not require the latest technologies but are looking for powerful devices at attractive prices. However, experts note that the 400-euro difference between the base S26 model and the Ultra version may lead many users to choose the cheaper variant or opt for the S25 FE model, which is currently considered one of the most cost-effective options in the Samsung ecosystem.