With Galaxy Unpacked 2026 set to kick off in a matter of days, you know that Samsung’s new foldable phones won’t come cheap. If you’re planning on being an early adopter of one of them, like the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra, then you might want to sign up for the Samsung Galaxy Card.
I think Samsung’s first-ever U.S. credit card, which is a Visa card issued by Barclays, is going to give the Apple Card a run for its money. I know how a generous rewards system can entice someone to choose one credit card over another, so Samsung is making a compelling offer here.
Even though it’s designated as a Samsung Wallet-first experience that lives as a digital card on your Galaxy phone, it will also be available as a premium black metal card. One of the biggest incentives is the 5% cash rewards you get on direct Samsung purchases.
Samsung Galaxy Card vs. Apple Card
| Row 0 – Cell 0 |
Samsung Galaxy Card |
Apple Card |
|
Annual Fee |
$0 |
$0 |
|
Issuer |
Barclays |
Goldman Sachs |
|
Card Type |
Visa |
Mastercard |
|
Direct Brand Purchases |
5% cash rewards |
3% cash rewards |
|
Mobile Wallet Purchases |
3% via Samsung Wallet |
2% via Apple Pay (3% at select merchants) |
|
Streaming Services |
2% cash rewards |
N/A |
|
All Other Purchases |
1% cash rewards |
1% cash rewards |
|
Sign-Up Bonus |
$200 after $2,000 spent in first 90 days |
$75 when you spend $75 within the first 30 days |
When I look at the comparison chart between the Samsung Galaxy Card and the Apple Card, I’m instantly hooked by the sign-up bonus Samsung is offering. You’ll get $200 back in cash rewards if you spend $2,000 within the first 90 days, whereas you typically only get a smaller, $75 welcome bonus when you spend $75 within the first 30 days with the Apple Card.
“Samsung Galaxy Card is part of our ongoing vision for Samsung Wallet to deliver more connected and rewarding everyday experiences,” said Woncheol Chai, EVP and Head of the Digital Wallet Team at the Mobile eXperience Business at Samsung Electronics. “Collaborating with like-minded partners, such as Barclays, is what made Samsung Galaxy Card possible. This marks yet another milestone in the evolution of Samsung Wallet and mobile payments — offering a new solution for busy users who want cash rewards whether they’re running errands or purchasing the latest Galaxy devices.”
Another important perk you should know about is the 5% cash rewards on all direct Samsung purchases. That’s huge if you intend on buying a lot of Samsung gear outside of phones, like Galaxy Watches, appliances, and TVs. By staying in the Samsung ecosystem, you earn more. In contrast, Apple maxes out at a 3% cash back reward when you buy directly from them or a few select merchants.
While both credit cards offer a baseline 1% reward on all other purchases, you get 3% cash back when using the card through Samsung Wallet — beating Apple’s 2% reward for standard Apple Pay transactions. These figures may sound inconsequential, but they quickly add up if you’re smart about how and where you shop.
The only catch right now is that Samsung hasn’t gone into full detail about its complete fee structure. While there’s no annual fee, the Apple Card famously prides itself on having no fees at all — including late and foreign transaction fees.
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