Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra vs Refurbished Galaxy S25 Ultra: Save Up to $850 or Buy New in 2026?

If you already own a Galaxy S25 Ultra, the new Galaxy S26 Ultra is not worth the upgrade. Samsung raised Australian prices on the S26 range this year, and the 256GB S26 Ultra now costs $2,049 new at OZ Tech Deals, while a certified-refurbished Galaxy S25 Ultra 256GB starts from just $1,199, a saving of $850 for a phone that still handles everything from photos to gaming with ease. The one group who should consider the S26 Ultra is buyers upgrading from an S23 or older, where the camera, chip and screen gains are much bigger. Below we break down exactly what changed, what it costs in Australia right now, and which one actually makes sense for your budget.

In this article

• What is different between the Galaxy S26 Ultra and the Galaxy S25 Ultra?
• How much more does the Galaxy S26 Ultra cost in Australia?
• How much do you save with a refurbished Galaxy S25 Ultra?
• Is there an even cheaper option?
• Should you buy "refurbished" directly from Samsung?
• Which Galaxy Ultra should you buy in 2026?
• Frequently asked questions

What is different between the Galaxy S26 Ultra and the Galaxy S25 Ultra?

The Galaxy S26 Ultra brings a faster Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chip, a marginally larger 6.9 inch display with higher peak brightness, and Samsung's newer One UI 8.5 software with extra AI tools such as an upgraded Now Brief and Now Nudge. The core camera hardware, a 200MP main sensor with a built in S Pen, carries over from the S25 Ultra largely unchanged, and independent lab testing by Tom's Guide found real-world battery life is actually slightly shorter on the new model despite a bigger battery. For anyone already carrying an S25 Ultra, that is a short list of gains for a four figure outlay.

Spec	Galaxy S26 Ultra	Galaxy S25 Ultra (Refurbished)
Chip	Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5	Snapdragon 8 Elite
Display	6.9 in, brighter panel	6.9 in, 120Hz AMOLED
Main camera	200MP, S Pen	200MP, S Pen
Software	One UI 8.5, newest AI tools	One UI, full Galaxy AI suite
Storage options	256GB, 512GB, 1TB	256GB, 512GB
From price (256GB)	$2,049 new	$1,199 refurbished

How much more does the Galaxy S26 Ultra cost in Australia?

Samsung increased local pricing across the whole S26 range this year, citing rising component costs and memory shortages, and also dropped the 128GB storage tier entirely. The base Galaxy S26 now starts higher than last year's S25, and the Ultra follows the same pattern. At OZ Tech Deals the new Galaxy S26 Ultra is priced from $2,049 for 256GB, $2,349 for 512GB and $2,699 for the 1TB model, all backed by the standard Samsung manufacturer warranty. If you want the very newest hardware and do not already own a recent Ultra, this is the phone to get, and we ship it Australia wide with free express shipping.

How much do you save with a refurbished Galaxy S25 Ultra?

A certified-refurbished Galaxy S25 Ultra 256GB starts from $1,199 at OZ Tech Deals, which is $850 less than the new S26 Ultra in the same storage size. You are giving up the newest chip and a slightly brighter screen, but you keep the same 200MP camera, the same built in S Pen and the same 6.9 inch display, with almost all of the daily experience intact. Every refurbished device we sell is tested to a minimum 80 percent battery health and comes with a 24 month device warranty plus a separate 12 month battery warranty, so you are not trading away peace of mind to get the lower price. If you are unsure what the grading letters mean, our guide to refurbished phone grades explains exactly what Grade A, B and C look like in person, and our roundup of the best refurbished Samsung Galaxy phones covers more models across every budget.

Is there an even cheaper option?

If $1,199 is still more than you want to spend, the Galaxy S24 Ultra is worth a look. It uses the previous generation Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip, still has a 200MP camera and the S Pen, and drops to $999 refurbished. You lose a small amount of raw speed and the newest AI tools, but for calls, apps, photos and games it is very close to the S25 Ultra in daily use, and it carries the same 24 month device warranty and 12 month battery warranty as every other refurbished phone we sell.

Should you buy "refurbished" directly from Samsung?

Samsung has recently started selling its own certified renewed Galaxy S26 units, but early listings show the saving is often modest, sometimes only a couple hundred dollars off the new price, because the stock is barely used trade-ins rather than an older generation phone. That is very different to buying last year's Ultra as a refurbished device, where the generation gap is what creates the bigger discount. The other option to avoid is an unverified marketplace seller advertising a cheap "refurbished" Galaxy phone with no real battery health check and no proper warranty. If something goes wrong, you have no one to call. A specialist refurbisher tests every device before it is listed, grades it honestly, and stands behind it with a real warranty, which is the difference between a genuine saving and a gamble.

Which Galaxy Ultra should you buy in 2026?

Buy the Galaxy S26 Ultra if you are upgrading from an S23 Ultra or older, want the newest chip on the market, and the price does not bother you. Buy the Galaxy S25 Ultra refurbished if you want a phone that feels like this year's flagship in daily use while keeping $850 in your pocket, which is the right call for most Australians. Buy the Galaxy S24 Ultra refurbished if budget is the main factor and you still want the big screen, S Pen and 200MP camera. You can compare the full current range any time on our refurbished Samsung Galaxy collection.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Galaxy S26 Ultra worth upgrading to from the S25 Ultra?

For most existing S25 Ultra owners, no. The chip is faster and the screen is a little brighter, but the camera hardware is largely unchanged and real-world battery life is not meaningfully better. The upgrade makes more sense if you are coming from an S23 Ultra or earlier.

How much can I save buying a refurbished Galaxy S25 Ultra instead of a new S26 Ultra?

At OZ Tech Deals a refurbished Galaxy S25 Ultra 256GB starts from $1,199, compared with $2,049 for the new Galaxy S26 Ultra 256GB, a saving of $850 for a phone with nearly identical daily performance.

Is Samsung's own refurbished Galaxy S26 a good deal?

Not usually. Early Samsung certified renewed Galaxy S26 listings show only modest discounts because the stock is recent trade-ins rather than an older generation model. Buying last year's Ultra refurbished from a specialist typically saves far more.

What warranty comes with a refurbished Galaxy Ultra from OZ Tech Deals?

Every refurbished device comes with a 24 month device warranty and a separate 12 month battery warranty, on top of your rights under Australian Consumer Law, plus free express shipping Australia wide.

Will a refurbished Galaxy S25 Ultra work on Telstra, Optus and Vodafone?

Yes. Our refurbished Galaxy phones are unlocked, so they work on Telstra, Optus, Vodafone and every smaller carrier running on those networks. Insert your SIM or set up your eSIM and you are ready to go.