LG Uplus Announces Galaxy S26 Pre-orders with Gemini AI & Google One Benefits
South Korea’s mobile carriers are aggressively courting potential customers ahead of Samsung’s Unpacked event, where the Galaxy S26 series is expected to be unveiled. The competition centers on pre-order incentives, ranging from traditional trade-in bonuses and rate discounts to more unusual offerings like pure gold bars.
SK Telecom, KT, and LG Uplus are all vying for market share, anticipating a surge in number portability – customers switching carriers – following the launch of the new flagship devices. The pre-order period for the Galaxy S25 series last year saw a record 575,642 subscribers switch carriers, the highest number in seven years, dating back to 2017. Pre-orders for the S25 exceeded 1.3 million units, setting a new benchmark for the Galaxy S line, and carriers are hoping to replicate that success with the S26.
SK Telecom is employing a strategy of “activate first, change device later,” allowing customers to secure a device now and potentially upgrade later. Beyond this, they are offering gold prizes, coupons, and enhanced benefits for both SIM and eSIM activations. KT and LG Uplus are also focusing on trade-in programs, coupons, and other promotional perks to attract new subscribers.
The incentives extend beyond financial benefits. Notably, some carriers in Korea are offering actual gold bars as a pre-order bonus, a tactic demonstrating the intensity of the competition. Samsung itself is also contributing to the excitement, having already launched 3D outdoor advertisements in major cities across 17 countries – including South Korea, the United States, and the United Kingdom – to highlight the Galaxy AI features of the upcoming devices.
However, the pre-order battle isn’t solely focused on attracting new customers. Carriers are also leveraging the launch to promote new features and partnerships. LG Uplus, for example, will be offering a bundle including Gemini 3 and Google One as part of its pre-order package. This highlights a deepening collaboration between Samsung and Google, extending beyond the core Android operating system.
Google is introducing several new Gemini-powered features specifically for the Galaxy S26 series. One of the most significant is the ability for Gemini to automate repetitive tasks in the background. This feature, currently in beta and also available on the Pixel 10 and Pixel 10 Pro, allows users to initiate complex actions – such as booking a ride-sharing service or ordering food – with a simple voice command, while simultaneously engaging in other activities. The system operates within a secure, virtualized environment to prevent the AI from gaining full control of the device.
Users can monitor Gemini’s actions and intervene at any time, providing a layer of control and transparency. The long-press of the power button initiates the process, allowing users to request Gemini to perform a specific task. This functionality is initially limited to the United States and Korea.
Beyond automation, Google is also enhancing its Circle to Search feature, enabling it to identify more objects within the screen’s view. The company is expanding its Gemini-powered Scam Detection feature to the Galaxy S26 series, providing an additional layer of security for users.
Samsung is also bringing back a popular pre-order incentive: doubling the base storage capacity of the purchased device. This offer, which has proven successful in the past, provides added value for customers who anticipate needing ample storage for photos, videos, and applications.
The aggressive pre-order marketing underscores the importance of the Galaxy S series to both Samsung and its carrier partners. The launch is expected to be a key driver of growth in the highly competitive smartphone market, and the carriers are clearly willing to invest heavily to capture a significant share of the demand. The combination of innovative AI features, attractive pre-order bonuses, and intense carrier competition suggests a potentially record-breaking launch for the Galaxy S26 series.