Samsung has an upgrade programme for its flagship Galaxy phones called Samsung Access, which is essentially a monthly subscription plan that enables you to switch to a new Galaxy device whenever you like.
Samsung Access is different from Samsung's trade-in scheme, mostly because it provides additional benefits. It's actually similar to Apple's iPhone Upgrade Programme, which lets you get the latest iPhone with other benefits for a monthly fee.
Here's everything you need to know about Samsung Access, which curiously doesn't seem to have been launched for the Galaxy S22 range of phones.
How does Samsung Access work?
- Upgrade anytime with subscription
- Get your new phone, return previous one in good condition
- Cancel whenever, just return your previous phone
Samsung Access is an upgrade programme. It's for people buying a new Galaxy S21, Galaxy S21+, Galaxy S21 Ultra, Note 20 5G or Note 20 Ultra 5G. Whereas Samsung's legacy upgrade scheme allows you to trade in an existing device and put the remaining balance towards another phone, Samsung Access lets you upgrade to the next Galaxy phone in nine months.
As a Samsung Access subscriber, you not only get to upgrade to the newest Galaxy phone, but you also get a Premium Care membership, which covers accidental damage and offers 24/7 remote setup assistance, technical support, aand next-day delivery for phone replacement. You also get a Microsoft 365 subscription, which includes Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, Skype, and 1TB of OneDrive.
Finally, you can manage your Samsung Access subscription (i.e., upgrade, return, cancel, etc.,) at any time from Samsung's website.
What's included with Samsung Access?
You get the following benefits when you subscribe to Samsung Access:
- Your choice of a Galaxy S21, S21+, S21 Ultra, Note 20 (any color/memory)
- A Samsung Premium Care membership.
- 1TB of OneDrive Cloud storage.
- Microsoft 365 Personal (up to five devices including PCs/Macs)
- Word
- Excel
- PowerPoint
- Outlook
- Publisher (PC only)
- Access (PC only)
- Skype
- The flexibility to pay over monthly payments
- The ability to upgrade every nine months (or upgrade earlier for $100).
- The ability to cancel after three months (or cancel earlier for $100).
How to subscribe to Samsung Access
It's simple: Go to the Samsung Access webpage here. Find and click the 'Subscribe' button on the device you want and follow the on-screen instructions. The Samsung Galaxy S21 and S21+ are both under the S21 Ultra option.
How much does Samsung Access cost?
A three-month subscription to Samsung Access costs from $29.97/month for the Samsung Galaxy Note 20 5G and from $37.97/month for the Note 20 Ultra 5G. The Samsung Galaxy S21 costs from $50.50/month, the S21+ from $194.50/month and the S21 Ultra from $374.50/month.
If you do not have an approved Samsung Financing Account, you will have to complete a Samsung Financing application when you checkout. Samsung Access can be combined with every day trade-in so you can trade in an eligible device and get an instant trade-in credit towards your purchase.
You can cancel your Samsung Access subscription after three months (or earlier for a $100 fee), but you'll have to return your Galaxy phone.
Where is Samsung Access available?
Samsung Access is currently limited to the US.