- Pay a monthly fee to rent the latest AI devices
- The program aims to make cutting-edge technology more accessible
- There are optional maintenance services as part of the subscription.
Samsung has a new plan to put AI technology in your hands, although not through drone delivery. Instead, it’s launching the AI Subscription Club, a program that lets you rent the company’s latest AI-powered devices for a monthly fee. It’s like leasing a car, but instead of a luxury sedan, you get a Galaxy phone or even the AI-powered companion robot, Ballie, which debuted at CES this year.
On paper, it sounds great. You get shiny new technology, Samsung gets predictable cash flow, and everyone leaves happy. But will it catch on? That depends on a few things. First, there is the question of price. If subscription costs rival traditional financing plans or carrier upgrades, it may not seem like a big deal. Second, there is the “owning versus renting” mentality. Some people like to know that their devices are really theirs, even if they’re a few years behind the latest trend.
Despite what the “AI Subscription Club” may suggest, it’s not about subscribing to software features, at least for now, as Galaxy’s AI tools will remain free for the rest of the year. The hardware subscription model allows you to rent devices like phones, tablets, and robots. Samsung promises that this will make staying ahead more affordable and accessible, while ensuring a steady stream of income.
Subscribers who pay a monthly fee get access to some of Samsung’s hardware catalog. In some ways it’s like leasing a car. For example, you can upgrade to new models without selling old devices. If you want new technology but don’t want to pay for it every year, it’s a good deal. Plus, it comes with optional maintenance services, so if Ballie accidentally falls off a table or your phone takes an unplanned bath, Samsung has you covered.
It’s notable that Samsung is pursuing this business model after similar attempts, such as the failure of Google Pixel Pass. Still, Samsung may see this as the best way to get people to try its more expensive technology but not want to pay the high price for new toys. Then, if they like it, they may be more willing to shell out the money.
AI Anticipation
Samsung isn’t starting from scratch here. In fact, the AI Subscription Club started last year as an appliance rental program in South Korea. Consumers could subscribe to AI-powered washing machines, refrigerators and televisions, with maintenance services. Extending this concept to mobile devices and AI devices is the natural next step, although it remains to be seen whether the same appeal translates to smartphones and tablets.
The subscription model also raises an interesting question: Are we moving toward a world where we stop owning our technology entirely? Between this and services like Google Chromebook rentals, it’s easy to imagine a future where everything from our phones to our refrigerators is “as a service.” For some, that’s exciting. For others, it’s a bit dystopian. Either way, it’s clear that Samsung sees subscriptions as part of its future.
For now, the AI Subscription Club will stay close to home and will roll out first in South Korea. Samsung hasn’t confirmed plans for a global launch, but it’s not hard to imagine this program appearing elsewhere if it gains traction. And with the Galaxy S25 series expected to debut at the Galaxy Unpacked event later this month, this could be Samsung’s way of keeping the rumor alive.
