Samsung is running an early January sale for the Galaxy Z Fold 6 that includes high trade-in prices for your old tech, a free subscription worth $300, and discounted accessories.
As is the case with almost all mobile devices in Samsung’s new sale, the deal focuses mostly on higher trade-in prices instead of straight discounts. Money-off the headline price is almost always the best type of deal, but Samsung has upped its trade-in valuations to some of the highest I have ever seen.
The best price is $500 for any Google smartphone. Samsung doesn’t have an exhaustive list of what Google phones it will accept. It is not clear if it will take devices from the pre-Pixel era (the terms and conditions do not shed any more light). But I imagine if there was a cut off, Samsung would explicitly say that it will only accept Pixel handsets.
At the very least, paying $500 for a 2016 Google Pixel 1 is an exceptional price that you will not get anywhere else. If you have an old Google device sitting around (and you’re looking to buy the Z Fold 6) this is a no-brainer.
More enterprising shoppers can get the original Pixel on the secondary market for less than $50. However, it may be difficult to find an old device that fits the below trade-in criteria.
It will be easier to find newer smartphones, such as the Pixel 5a or Pixel 4 XL, in better condition that will net the full $500. Both of these can be picked up on eBay or Swappa for under $100.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 Trade In Prices
Elsewhere, Samsung has similarly high prices for other smartphones. Here are the best valuations I could find for realistic trade-ins (phones that are more than two years old).
- 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
- Apple iPhone X – $550
In typical Samsung fashion, the company has discounted accessories if they’re bought with the Z Fold 6. The Galaxy Buds 3 are $117 off, while the Galaxy Ring is $80 cheaper. These devices are subject to repeated discounts throughout the year so do not feel pressured to take Samsung up on this deal.
The more intriguing bundle offer is two years of VIP Advantage membership, worth $300 in total. That includes Samsung Care Plus, which means unlimited repairs (but doesn’t come with coverage for theft and loss). The VIP membership also knocks 10% off accessories, “exclusive discounts” (although, Samsung’s hardware is often discounted anyway), and free simple installation, or 50% off complex installations and TV mounting.
Again, this is being thrown in for free with the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 so there’s little reason to not take it. Just make sure you put a note in your calendar for when the promotion ends, otherwise, you may be automatically charged $149.
