Samsung Certified Refurbished launches with the Galaxy S26 series: Starting now, Samsung is selling refurbished Galaxy S26, Galaxy S26+, and Galaxy S26 Ultra models directly through samsung.com/de/certified-re-newed. If you’ve been eyeing a current flagship model for a while but have been put off by the retail price, here’s your chance to get a certified device that comes with a full manufacturer’s warranty.
TL;DR: Samsung now offers the Galaxy S26 series as refurbished devices through its own Certified Re-Newed program—exclusively via the official Samsung online store. The devices undergo over 100 quality tests, receive original replacement parts as needed, and are completely reset and updated. They come with a two-year warranty—just like new devices—as well as a commitment to seven years of software updates. Samsung has not yet announced official prices for Germany.
What is Samsung Certified Re-Newed?
Certified Re-Newed is Samsung’s own refurbished program for Galaxy smartphones. Instead of purchasing refurbished devices through third-party sellers like Back Market or eBay, Samsung sells its own refurbished return units, demo units, and returned devices, including the same two-year warranty that applies to new Galaxy smartphones. The program has been available in Germany, the United Kingdom, and France for the Galaxy S25 series; now the current S26 generation is following suit.
Which Galaxy S26 models are available as Certified Refurbished?
At launch, all three models in the current series are listed in the program:
| Model | Storage Options | Colors |
|---|---|---|
| Galaxy S26 | 256 GB, 512 GB | including Black |
| Galaxy S26+ | 256 GB, 512 GB | including Black |
| Galaxy S26 Ultra | 256 GB, 512 GB, 1 TB | including Black, Cobalt Violet |
The information on storage and colors comes from Samsung’s UK press release. For the German market, Samsung itself notes that availability, colors, and storage options may vary. It’s therefore worth checking the Samsung Store directly to see what’s currently in stock.
Here’s how the quality inspection works
According to Samsung, every device undergoes a multi-step refurbishment process before being resold:
- Thorough cleaning of the casing and display
- Over 100 quality and functionality tests
- Replacement of defective components with genuine Samsung parts
- Complete data erasure and reset to factory settings
- Update to the latest available software version
The entire process is carried out by certified technicians at authorized Samsung service centers. According to Samsung, minor external signs of wear are possible, but functionality should not be affected. The battery is also tested and certified according to Samsung’s own standards.
Warranty and Software Support
Anyone who purchases a Certified Refurbished device receives the same two-year manufacturer’s warranty as when buying a new Galaxy smartphone. In addition, the update policy promised for the S26 series applies: seven generations of operating system upgrades plus security updates. The Galaxy S26 Ultra also features the Privacy Display, though it must be activated manually.
Price: How much does a refurbished Galaxy S26 cost?
Samsung does not specify exact prices for the Galaxy S26 models in the Certified Re-Newed program in its press release. However, a look at the previous generation provides some guidance: For the Galaxy S25, Samsung offered Certified Re-Newed financing rates starting at around 33 euros per month, and for the S25 Ultra, starting at around 52 euros. Whether rates for the S26 series will settle at a similar level remains to be seen until the prices for Germany are posted online.
One downside from the previous round: Subsidized new devices included in cell phone plans were sometimes cheaper than Samsung’s own Re-Newed rates. So anyone who needs a new contract anyway should compare options before deciding on the refurbished version.
Who Should Consider Certified Re-Newed?
This offer makes the most sense for anyone who wants to buy a current Galaxy flagship anyway but doesn’t want to pay the full retail price and still wants to keep the manufacturer’s warranty and updates. Compared to independent refurbished sellers, Samsung has a clear advantage: it controls the entire refurbishment process in-house, including the use of original replacement parts. On the other hand, those who are flexible and are also open to older models may find even cheaper deals from third-party sellers like Back Market.
Conclusion
With Certified Refurbished, Samsung is bringing the current Galaxy S26 series to Germany as refurbished devices for the first time: featuring a full inspection process, original parts, and a two-year warranty. Whether this is ultimately worth it in terms of price depends on what Samsung actually charges for the German models once the prices go live online. We’ll update this article as soon as the prices are available.
