Amazon Music is now preinstalled bloatware on Samsung Galaxy devices
Samsung Galaxy phones are getting yet another preinstalled app: Amazon Music will now come loaded on select Galaxy devices globally, the two companies announced on July 15, 2026. The deal includes a 3-month free trial of Amazon Music Unlimited for users who activate it through the Galaxy Store. After the trial, the subscription automatically rolls into a paid plan at $12.99 a month — or $11.99 for Prime members.
More apps, less screen
Amazon Music joins a long roster of third-party apps that already come pre-loaded on Galaxy devices: Spotify, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and OneDrive are all part of the current lineup. Most of these can be fully uninstalled after setup, though some models only allow disabling — meaning parts of the app stay on the device regardless. Whether Amazon Music falls into the removable or disable-only category will likely depend on the device tier.
The timing is deliberate. Samsung made the announcement ahead of a Galaxy Unpacked event, framing the deal as a perk rather than a preload. The 3-month trial is redeemable within 12 months of activation via the Galaxy Store — so there's no immediate rush, but users will need to remember to cancel if they don't want to be charged.
The fine print matters
At $12.99 a month, Amazon Music Unlimited sits below Spotify Premium's top tier ($15.99 for an individual plan) and roughly matches its standard rate. Prime members get a dollar off. The service includes access to over 100 million songs, podcasts, livestreams, curated playlists, and — in the US and UK — one Audible audiobook per month.
The auto-renewal model has drawn scrutiny from consumer groups on both sides of the Atlantic. Regulators in the US and UK have increasingly pushed back on subscription services that default users into paid tiers after free trials. Samsung and Amazon have not addressed that angle in their announcement.
For existing Amazon Music subscribers, the preinstall changes nothing. For everyone else, it's worth knowing the trial clock only starts when you activate — not when it appears on your home screen.
