From the Galaxy S26 series, Samsung's extended protection plan will now replace your phone instead of repairing it. Before this, if your phone broke, the manufacturer would repair it even if nearly every internal part was damaged, which could take weeks.
Now in the UK, if you contact Care Plus, they guarantee a replacement device within 48 hours. This policy also works internationally, and you can still get a replacement if you're travelling. It's unclear whether Samsung will extend the service to non-UK residents eventually.
No more long waiting periods to fix your phone
It’s not every day you’re rewarded with a new phone for breaking the old one. But it is a great solution to not having to wait for parts or weeks of uncertainty about your device's condition.
Per Android Authority’ post, you'll get a new Galaxy phone to replace the damaged one. That means they must already have replacement devices physically positioned in the region to make it possible.
It's starting with the latest Galaxy S26 series, which is expensive enough that even a single screen repair or replacement without insurance could easily cost hundreds of dollars.
Samsung is also offering unlimited claims, which means you’re no longer capped at a fixed number of accidental damage claims per year. Protection plans may limit you to something like two claims per 12 months. After that, you’re either denied service or you'll pay the full repair cost.
Samsung’s actual manufacturing cost is significantly lower than the sticker price, so this shouldn't be bad for business as it may appear.
Also, it's likely that most replacement units are not fresh retail boxes and are certified refurbished or reclaimed units that have been tested and restored.
Besides, Care+ is an insurance model and thousands of customers pay monthly or upfront fees. Only a percentage will ever apply. The collected premiums are what's funding the replacements.
As expected, a replacement means you’re getting different hardware. Your photos, messages, apps, banking tokens, and settings live on your old phone unless you’ve backed them up.
What is Samsung Care+?
Samsung Care Plus is an optional device protection and service plan for Samsung products, and that includes phones, tablets, watches, and more.
It goes beyond the standard manufacturer warranty by covering things the warranty usually doesn’t, like drops, spills, battery issues, and accidental damage. You can also add theft and loss coverage on some plans.
Pricing varies by device and varies by country and model. You can use the price calculator on the website to get a clearer sense of it. On the standard Samsung Care+ plan, you can either pay £129 upfront to cover the Galaxy S26 series for 24 months, or you can pay £7 per month for up to 60 months in the UK.
The phone itself is currently available for preorder. In the US, the unlocked 256GB model starts at $1,100, while the 512GB version costs $1,300. In the UK, the standard model costs £879, while it's £1,099 for the S26+ and £1,279 for the S26 Ultra. Wednesday, 11 March marks the official global release date.
