Just when you thought Black Friday deals couldn’t get any more confusing, Samsung pulls a fast one by raising the price of the Galaxy S25 Ultra right before the big day. But here’s where it gets controversial: Is this a sneaky price hike disguised as a deal, or a strategic move to push consumers toward higher-value options? Let’s break it down.
Samsung’s latest Black Friday offer for the Galaxy S25 Ultra has dropped the starting price of the 256GB model, which was briefly available for $849, and replaced it with a 512GB option for $914.99. And this is the part most people miss: While the price has gone up, you’re getting double the storage—a $240 value—plus an additional $385 discount if you don’t trade in a phone. That’s a total savings of $625 off the original $1,419.99 price tag. But is it enough to justify the higher upfront cost?
If storage is your priority, this deal might still feel like a win. For those who need even more space, the 1TB model is now just $395 more, bringing it down to $1,034.99—cheaper than the regular price of the 256GB version. Bold move, Samsung. But it raises the question: Are they pushing consumers toward higher-storage models to offset the initial price hike?
Here’s another twist: Samsung’s trade-in values have skyrocketed just in time for Black Friday. Last week, the Galaxy S22 Ultra was valued at a measly $170, but now it’s up to $480—just $20 shy of its June value. The Galaxy S23 Ultra is now worth $530, and even the Galaxy Z Fold 4 is fetching $480. Is this a genuine improvement, or just a temporary fix to make the deal look better?
One thing’s for sure: Samsung is leaning hard into price cuts this year, slashing costs for the Galaxy Z Fold 7, Galaxy S25 Edge, and Galaxy S25 Ultra to their lowest points yet. But there’s a trade-off—no free hardware like laptops, watches, or tablets, which were staples of past Black Fridays. Instead, you’ll get software freebies like six months of Google AI Pro, two months of Adobe Lightroom, and 30-day trials for apps like Samsung Health and LumaFusion. Is this a step backward, or a smart shift to focus on what consumers really want?
Before you pull the trigger, don’t forget Samsung’s ‘Price Promise,’ which guarantees you’ll get the best deal if prices drop further. But read the fine print—it’s not as straightforward as it sounds. And if you’re hunting for the absolute lowest price, subscribe to deal alerts to stay ahead of the game.
So, here’s the big question: Is Samsung’s Black Friday strategy a clever way to offer more value, or a calculated move to mask higher prices? Let us know what you think in the comments—we’re all ears!
