Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge+ Note 5
Samsung’s Galaxy S6 and Note 5 both launched in recent months, but sales of the former have been well below expectations. Note 5 sales figures aren’t available yet, but the company is apparently hedging its bets. Samsung has unveiled a new promotion in which it will send you a Galaxy S6 Edge, S6 Edge+, or Note 5 for 30 days, free of charge. It’ll even throw in a SIM card for the network of your choice.
While a credit card is required to order, the company only initially taps it for $1. Failure to return the device within 30 days, we imagine, likely leads to an immediate bill — so don’t treat this like Netflix where you can sign up for the free trial and forget to cancel thereafter. Samsung’s decision to offer flagship devices for a free 30-day trial is likely driven by slumping sales of its flagship devices and significant loss of market share, as shown in the slide below by Counterpoint Research.
OEM smartphone markets
Samsung has had a bruising 2015, by any standard, despite launching multiple well-reviewed devices. That’s not to say enthusiasts didn’t have reason to be unhappy with the company’s decision to ditch microSD cards and replaceable batteries, but the Samsung Galaxy S6 and Note 5 have received strong marks for performance, thermals, and screen quality. This hasn’t stopped Apple from chewing into the company at the high end, however, while competitors like Xiaomi and Huawei have chewed into it in the low-end space.
The Galaxy S6 Ege. Well-regarded, but not enough to stem Samsung's losses.
The Galaxy S6 Ege. Well-regarded, but not enough to stem Samsung’s losses.
Given this combination of headwinds, it’s not surprising that Samsung marketing is digging for alternative methods to appeal to new users. As an iPhone user, I’m actually considering the trial myself. I may not have plans to convert to Android any time soon, but it’d be interesting to see how Samsung’s latest and greatest stacks up against the iPhone 6S or whatever Apple calls its next-generation smartphone.
If you’re interested in taking advantage of Samsung’s offer, visit this website with an iPhone. The site will detect that you’re on an Apple device and walk you through the steps to register for a free Samsung device for the 30-day trial. As always, make certain to read the fine print — nobody wants to get stuck with a high-end smartphone bill for a device you didn’t actually plan on using. If you do find that the Galaxy S6 or Note 5 meets your needs better than an iPhone, drop in and tell us about it.