Samsung Unveils 'New Galaxy AI Subscription Club' with Up to 50% Buyback

Samsung Electronics (005930.KS) has launched a new subscription service that compensates up to half of the resale value on purchases of its latest foldable smartphones and extends the subscription period to three years.

Samsung Electronics said on the 26th that it will operate the New Galaxy AI Subscription Club, offering these benefits ahead of the pre-sale of its new 'Galaxy Z 8' series.

The core of the service is the Flip Youth Subscription, newly created to target consumers in their teens and 20s. Customers who purchase the SIM-free Z Flip8 and sign up for the two-year plan are guaranteed up to 50% of the Samsung.com base price as residual value when they return the device. Reflecting the preferences of younger consumers, the service also includes a one-month pass for the language learning app Speak Premium Plus.

In line with the trend of longer smartphone replacement cycles, the subscription period has been extended from the previous one to two years to a maximum of three years. Subscribers to the three-year plan receive the Samsung Care Plus smartphone loss and damage product, which covers damage as well as loss up to three times. The service also adds a benefit to replace the battery for a 20,000 won out-of-pocket cost if battery efficiency falls below 80%. Residual value guarantee rates for returning devices are, based on the 8th-generation foldables, 50% for the one-year plan, 40% for the two-year plan (50% for the Z Flip8), and 25% for the three-year plan.

Insurance benefits to prevent digital fraud damage are also provided as standard. All subscribers can be compensated up to 3 million won in the event of cyber financial crimes such as phishing and smishing, and up to 500,000 won for online direct transaction fraud.

Monthly subscription fees are set at 9,900 won for the one- and two-year plans and 14,500 won for the three-year plan for the Z Fold8 and Ultra models, while the Z Flip8 is priced at 8,900 won for the one- and two-year plans and 11,500 won for the three-year plan.

"We upgraded the service by comprehensively considering benefits that let customers use foldable devices with peace of mind, financial security in daily life, and the preferences of teens and those in their 20s," said Jung Ho-jin, Vice President and Head of Samsung Electronics Korea. "We will continue to introduce differentiated services that reflect customers' lifestyles."