Numbers crunched: Can these Samsung deals really save you $900?

Telstra, Optus and Vodafone have each slashed prices on this year’s Samsung Galaxy S and Z line-ups, as well as selected 2024 Samsung models. Act fast and you could save up to $900 on a brand new Samsung smartphone – so what’s the catch?

We’ve taken a look at the Samsung deals currently available to see which deal comes out on top.

Telstra Samsung deals

Telstra is offering up to $900 off its Samsung Galaxy range. The biggest discounts are available for customers who opt to pay off their new phone on a 12, 24 or 36-month payment plan, but you can also save by buying outright and pairing it with a Telstra SIM-only plan.

The following phones are on sale until October 20:

• Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7: $600 off on a device payment plan, $400 off outright
• Samsung Galaxy Flip 7: $400 off on a device payment plan, $300 off outright
• Samsung Galaxy S25: $300 off on a device payment plan, $250 off outright
• Samsung Galaxy S25+: $400 off on a device payment plan,  $300 off outright
• Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra: $650 off on a device payment plan, $400 outright
• Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge: $500 off on a device payment plan, $300 off outright

You can also save on last year’s premium Samsung handsets until November 17:

• Samsung Galaxy Z F Fold 6: $900 off on a device payment plan or outright
• Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6: $600 off on a device payment plan or outright
• Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra: $600 off on a device payment plan or outright

The Samsung Galaxy S25 FE is also discounted until November 3 – you can save $400 on a device payment plan, or $250 when buying outright.

Each device discount will be applied in equal monthly instalments across your plan payments (or from the upfront cost when buying outright). Be aware that if you cancel your Telstra service early, you’ll be required to pay out the remaining device cost and forfeit any remaining discounts.

Optus Samsung deals

Optus customers picking up selected Samsung phones can claim a free Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ 5G valued at $528. The telco will also throw in the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 if you add a $10 per month Watch-only data plan.

Optus’ free Galaxy Tab A9+ and Galaxy Watch 8 offer is available with the following phones:

• Samsung Galaxy S25
• Samsung Galaxy S25+
• Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra
• Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge
• Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7
• Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7

To be eligible for your free tablet, you’ll need to pick up one of the above devices on any Optus repayment plan or outright. Pair your phone with an Optus mobile plan, and follow Optus’ instructions to submit your claim via Samsung. You should receive your Galaxy Tab A9+ within 60 days of submission.

If you’re keen for a free Galaxy Watch, you’ll need to buy your Samsung phone on a 24 or 36-month Optus payment plan. Add a 24-month or 36-month $10 Watch plan at checkout and select the 40mm Galaxy Watch 8 – you’ll receive a $748 discount covering the full Watch price. The discount will cover each monthly Watch payment, so if you cancel early you’ll need to pay out the full Watch price.

You can also apply the discount to other Samsung Galaxy Watches, including:

• Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 44mm: $50 with discount
• Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Classic 46mm: $250 with discount
• Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra (2025) 47mm: $550 with discount

Both of the above offers are available from Optus through to October 15, terms apply.

Vodafone Samsung deals

Vodafone is also cutting costs on the most popular Samsung phones for customers buying on eligible plans. Available phones include:

• Samsung Galaxy S25+: $300 off
• Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra: $350 off
• Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7: $500 off
• Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7: $400 off
• Samsung Galaxy S25 FE: $400 off

All of the above discounts are available to customers who opt to pay off their device over 24 or 36 months. The discount is divided into monthly instalments, so you’ll need to stay connected to a Vodafone plan for your entire repayment term to receive the full savings.

If you cancel your Vodafone plan early, you’ll be required to pay out the remaining balance of your phone at the full, undiscounted price.

Samsung discounts: A good deal, or is there a catch?

If you’re already planning to jump on a new Samsung phone, the above offers can save you hundreds on your new phone’s retail price. However, there’s two things you’ll need to decide to determine if Telstra, Optus or Vodafone’s promotions can save you money.

1. Are you prepared to stay with a telco for a minimum of 12, 24 or 36 months?

Unless you’re paying the entire discounted price upfront on a Telstra plan, you’ll generally need to commit to a minimum repayment period with your telco of choice to get the full price cut.

This means that if you cancel early, you’ll be sent a final bill for the remaining balance of your Samsung device, without the discount applied. You’re still free to switch between SIM-only plans from the same provider without impacting your device payments – but cancel your Telstra, Optus or Vodafone service entirely, and you could be hit with a hefty final payment.

2. Could you pay less overall by buying a Samsung phone outright, and pairing it with a cheap SIM-only plan from a low-cost telco?

Buying a phone on a Telstra, Optus or Vodafone plan means you’ll likely pay more for your actual mobile service each month when compared with a cheaper provider.

We’ve compared Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra offers from the Big Three to buying the device outright and adding a SIM-only plan from a cheaper provider. We’ll compare the price of the 256GB Galaxy S25 Ultra, plus the cost of a 50GB plan (or equivalent) over 24 months from Telstra, Optus, Vodafone, SpinTel and Tangerine.

← Mobile/tablet users, scroll sideways to view full table → 

*Includes $10 monthly plan discount for 12 months, available with promo code PROMO10. Ends October 20.

**Includes $8 off per month for the term of your phone repayments. Ends October 30.

Even with plan and device discounts applied, the major telcos still aren’t the cheapest way to get the S25 Ultra. SpinTel’s budget-friendly $29 plan offers the lowest two-year cost, so buying your Samsung outright may be worth it long-term for the freedom to jump on a cheap SIM plan.

Optus is the most expensive plan in our table, but keep in mind you will get at least $528 of extra value: the free Galaxy Tab A9+ 5G, plus a Galaxy Watch 8 (only $240 when you factor in the $10 monthly Watch plan price over 24 months).

There is one more sneaky method for scoring a Samsung discount: taking advantage of Telstra’s outright buying option.

If you’ve got the cash at hand, you can buy your phone from Telstra outright, then cancel your service after the first month. This can save you up to $400 on 2025 models, or up to $900 on last year’s Galaxy range – as you’re not buying on a payment plan, you can leave at any time after the first month with no penalty.

If it’s time to upgrade your phone, you currently have a range of hot offers to pick from. Just make sure you shop around, compare the total costs of each plan, and check the terms and conditions before you make a commitment.

Compare Samsung Galaxy S25 plans