There was renewed speculation that Samsung is set to follow Apple in offering an upgrade plan for its device buyers, with the possibility it may be launched alongside the South Korean vendor’s next flagship smartphone.

Last year, Apple introduced a financing plan for the iPhone which enables customers to upgrade to new models on a yearly basis. While devices are financed over two years, customers can shift to a new 24-month deal half way through, enabling them to keep up with new iPhone releases.

It was reported late last year that Samsung was looking at a similar offering, which has the benefit of locking customers into a Samsung-only upgrade path. With many operators also shifting away from offering subsidised devices, financing plans have proved a useful way to enable customers to access high-end devices.

Samsung is widely expected to introduce its new flagship smartphone at next month’s Mobile World Congress.