Creating accounts, agreeing to phrases of service, and proving you are not a robotic can get tiring quick. Ultimately, when system and software program hoops change into irritating sufficient, we might fairly simply bounce via them than search another. That is how individuals find yourself giving pointless private information to expertise corporations, and it is laborious accountable them. Nobody has the time to comb via each license settlement or keep away from each darkish sample.
Regardless, it is vital to recollect there’s a greater method. Samsung Galaxy customers are prompted to register to their Google and Samsung accounts when establishing a brand new system, and the onboarding course of makes it really feel like a requirement. Nonetheless, you really do not want a Samsung account to make use of a Galaxy cellphone in any respect. I used a brand-new Galaxy S26 with no Samsung account and a Galaxy S26 Extremely with a Samsung account to find what it is like to make use of a Galaxy cellphone each methods.
Surprisingly, the expertise of utilizing a Galaxy cellphone with no Samsung account is totally featured in all of the ways in which matter. You would possibly really desire Galaxy telephones with out Samsung accounts in the event you do not look after Galaxy AI and pointless options.
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The Galaxy S26 Extremely is sort of good, and that just about is what bothers me
The Galaxy S26 Extremely is as soon as once more one of the best Android cellphone cash should purchase, however there’s one factor I want Samsung to handle.
You do not have to make use of a Samsung account
For that matter, Google accounts aren’t required both
The setup course of for any Galaxy cellphone usually entails signing in to or creating each Samsung and Google accounts. A Google account handles the Android system and demanding options just like the Google Play Retailer, whereas a Samsung account is used for unique Galaxy options. We have change into so accustomed to utilizing these accounts with Android telephones that nobody bats an eye fixed when their Galaxy asks them to register to a Samsung account. To their credit score, Samsung does not make it simple to keep away from establishing a Galaxy cellphone with out one.
The Samsung account immediate in the course of the onboarding course of gives the choice of signing in with an e mail, cellphone quantity, or QR code. It’s also possible to use your Google account to register in case your Samsung account is linked. There is not any apparent approach to arrange a Galaxy cellphone with no Samsung account, till you notice the tiny Forgot password or do not have an account? textual content on the backside of the display screen. Faucet it, and you will see a number of extra choices that reveal a approach to begin utilizing your Galaxy with out one.
This new Samsung account display screen reveals three choices: Create account, Forgot ID, and Forgot password. Nonetheless no signal of a method to make use of a Galaxy cellphone with no Samsung account. As soon as once more, the important thing lies within the smaller print beneath the first buttons. This time, you are on the lookout for Arrange later in Settings. Urgent this feature permits you to arrange any Galaxy cellphone with no Samsung account.
Regardless of the button’s phrasing, you do not have to arrange a Samsung account later within the Settings app. You’ll be able to proceed utilizing a Galaxy cellphone so long as you would like with out one, and also you may not be lacking out.
Lacking options or a greater expertise?
Unavailable Galaxy AI options might really be a perk
Credit score: Brady Snyder / MakeUseOf
Typically, corporations persuade customers to create on-line accounts by hiding vital options and performance behind the account requirement. I used a Galaxy S26 for weeks with no Samsung account, and it left me impressed at how full the expertise felt. The massive omission is entry to the Galaxy AI suite. For those who do not register to a Samsung account, you will not have the ability to use any Galaxy AI options, together with those that run on-device.
These options embody core One UI 8.5 experiences, just like the Now Temporary and Now Nudge. The limitation additionally applies to smaller options, like AI notification summaries and Samsung’s Well being Help. Communication and productiveness options, like Name Help, Searching Help, and Transcript Help, require a Samsung account as nicely. Even options within the Galaxy AI creativity suite, similar to Photograph Help and Audio Eraser, will not be accessible till you register.
Samsung markets the lengthy listing of Galaxy AI options above as being a significant perk of utilizing a brand new flagship just like the Galaxy S26 sequence. On paper, shedding these options by not utilizing a Samsung account appears to be like like an enormous deal. The other is likely to be true in follow. I do know loads of individuals who want their smartphone wasn’t overloaded with undesirable AI options within the first place, and I’ve heard related sentiments from readers. For those who select to keep away from signing in to a Samsung account in your Galaxy cellphone, you may successfully take away Galaxy AI experiences out of your cellphone fully.
The beauty of this methodology is that you could maintain Google AI options if you would like. I can nonetheless use Gemini and Circle to Search on my Galaxy cellphone with no Samsung account, as a result of these useful AI instruments are powered by Google. You’ll be able to have a little bit of one of the best of each worlds, or you may keep away from utilizing a Google account altogether to get rid of them altogether.
These options would possibly make you register
Samsung Discover, Well being, and Pockets all require accounts
Galaxy AI most likely is not a compelling motive to register to a Samsung account for most individuals, however there are a number of others. For one, the Samsung Discover ecosystem requires an account. If you want to maintain tabs on the placement of your Samsung cellphone, watch, or earbuds, you may must register to an account for that. Equally, your entire Samsung Well being platform necessitates a Samsung account. These with a Galaxy Watch or Galaxy Match tracker might want to stay signed in to get probably the most of their wearable.
Different Samsung options, like Samsung Pockets, additionally require an account. That is simple to keep away from by utilizing Google Pockets as an alternative. The identical goes for many of the Galaxy software program ecosystem — in the event you use largely Google apps, you most likely do not want a Samsung account.
I by no means felt the necessity to register to my Samsung account whereas utilizing a Galaxy S26 with out one. Even when testing Galaxy telephones with Samsung accounts side-by-side, I did not really feel just like the account-free cellphone was lacking out. In truth, for people who despise synthetic intelligence options, the Galaxy cellphone with no Samsung account was cleaner and easier with much less bloat. Fewer on-line accounts imply much less monitoring, so in the event you do not want a Samsung account, you most likely should not use one to guard your privateness.
SoC
Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5
Show
6.9-inch Dynamic Tremendous AMOLED 2X
RAM
12 or 16 GB
Storage
256GB, 512GB, or 1TB
Battery
5,000 mAh
Working System
Android
The Galaxy S26 Extremely is one of the best flagship Samsung has to supply, full with a Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset, a next-gen Privateness Show, and a quadruple-camera rear system highlighted by a 200MP main shooter. It is an awesome cellphone, however keep in mind you do not want a Samsung account to make use of it.
