Sapphire Preferred Rebooted—Plus Two 2026 Cards Worth Your Slot

The summer when “everyday spend” got interesting

On June 15, 2026, Chase didn’t just tweak the Sapphire Preferred—it modernized it for how we actually pay now. Days later, Samsung debuted its first U.S. credit card, and Amex quietly leveled up Gold. Together, these moves reshape the daily‑spend stack many of us use year‑round. ([media.chase.com](https://media.chase.com/news/Meet-the-New-Chase-Sapphire-Preferred))

Why these launches matter now

Issuers are finally meeting where spend has shifted: vacation rentals, EV charging, and phone‑based wallets. Chase added 3x on gas/EV charging and vacation homes (Airbnb, Vrbo, and more), plus a bigger hotel credit—useful even if you aren’t chasing airport lounge selfies. Amex Gold doubled down on core categories (dining and U.S. supermarkets) while adding 5x on prepaid hotels via Amex Travel and Hertz Five Star status—substance you’ll notice on real trips. And Samsung’s Galaxy Card leans into the way we already pay: tap your phone and get elevated cash rewards through Samsung Wallet. ([media.chase.com](https://media.chase.com/news/Meet-the-New-Chase-Sapphire-Preferred))

The three headliners, in plain English

• Chase Sapphire Preferred (annual fee $95): New 3x on gas/EV charging and 3x on vacation homes; 5x on Chase Travel bookings; $100 Chase Travel Hotel Credit each account anniversary; $120 credit for Global Entry/TSA PreCheck/NEXUS every four years; expanded travel protections including Emergency Evacuation coverage up to $100,000; limited‑time 100,000‑point welcome offer after $5,000 in three months. Note: the 10% anniversary points boost is being discontinued for new applicants as of June 15, 2026, and Ultimate Rewards transfers to World of Hyatt move to 4:3 for new applicants now (and for existing cardholders on October 1, 2026). ([media.chase.com](https://media.chase.com/news/Meet-the-New-Chase-Sapphire-Preferred))

• American Express Gold (annual fee $325): 4x at restaurants worldwide (up to $50,000/yr), 4x at U.S. supermarkets (up to $25,000/yr), 5x on prepaid hotels via AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel app, 3x on flights (Amex Travel or direct), plus Hertz Five Star status and no foreign transaction fees. Current headline credits include up to $120 in Uber Cash (U.S.), up to $100 in Resy credits, and up to $84 in Dunkin’ credits (enrollment required for credits). ([americanexpress.com](https://www.americanexpress.com/us/credit-cards/card/gold-card/?searchresult=amex+gold+card))

• Samsung Galaxy Card (no annual fee): $200 bonus after $2,000 in the first 90 days; 5% cash rewards on eligible purchases directly with Samsung, 3% cash rewards on purchases made with Samsung Wallet, 2% on streaming, 1% everywhere else. Issued by Barclays on the Visa network—built to live inside your phone and reward tap‑to‑pay behavior. ([news.samsung.com](https://news.samsung.com/us/samsung-introducing-galaxy-card/))

A simple playbook you can use today

Think of these as complementary roles. Use Sapphire Preferred when you:

• Buy gas or charge an EV (3x), book vacation homes (3x), or book flights/hotels/rental cars via Chase Travel (5x). That $100 annual hotel credit is straightforward—prepay a hotel through Chase Travel, get credits back up to $100 each anniversary year. ([media.chase.com](https://media.chase.com/news/Meet-the-New-Chase-Sapphire-Preferred))

Lean on Amex Gold when you:

• Grocery shop in the U.S. (4x, capped) or dine out (4x), and when you can prepay hotels via Amex Travel (5x). The card’s credits can be real offsets if you already Uber or book on Resy; Hertz Five Star is a nice extra for lines and upgrades. ([americanexpress.com](https://www.americanexpress.com/us/credit-cards/card/gold-card/?searchresult=amex+gold+card))

And let Samsung Galaxy Card quietly sweep everything you tap with your phone:

• Set it as your default in Samsung Wallet for 3% on mobile‑wallet purchases, keep 5% in your back pocket for direct Samsung buys (phones, TVs, Care+), and scoop the $200 starter bonus with a planned purchase. ([news.samsung.com](https://news.samsung.com/us/samsung-introducing-galaxy-card/))

Quick math on a typical month

Say your household spends $500 at U.S. supermarkets, $250 dining, $200 on gas/EV charging, and $30 on streaming:

• Amex Gold: $500 groceries at 4x = 2,000 Membership Rewards; $250 dining at 4x = 1,000 MR. Total: 3,000 MR.
• Sapphire Preferred: $200 gas/EV at 3x = 600 Ultimate Rewards. Cash‑out floor is $6 (UR redeem at 1¢/point), with potential for more via travel. ([creditcards.chase.com](https://creditcards.chase.com/rewards-credit-cards/sapphire/preferred?iCELL=61FY&utm_source=openai))
• Samsung Galaxy Card: $30 streaming at 2% = $0.60 back, plus anything you tap with Samsung Wallet at 3%.

Layer in one prepaid hotel through Amex Travel this quarter—say $300 before taxes/fees—and Gold adds 1,500 MR at 5x. Meanwhile, booking one Chase Travel hotel using Sapphire triggers up to $100 back via the annual credit. None of this asks you to spend more—just to route the same spend through the right rails. ([americanexpress.com](https://www.americanexpress.com/us/credit-cards/card/gold-card/?searchresult=amex+gold+card))

Who should consider applying—and why now

• Apply for Sapphire Preferred if you want a single travel card that just got better at everyday categories (gas/EV) and meaningful trip perks. The limited‑time 100,000‑point welcome offer after $5,000 in three months is compelling for a $95 card, and the $100 hotel credit is easy to use annually. ([media.chase.com](https://media.chase.com/news/Meet-the-New-Chase-Sapphire-Preferred))
• Consider Amex Gold if most of your budget lives in groceries and dining. Its $325 annual fee can be offset by credits you’ll actually use—Uber Cash, Resy, and Dunkin’—and the 5x prepaid‑hotel angle is underrated for city stays. Welcome offers vary by channel, but the card’s long‑term earn is the real draw. ([americanexpress.com](https://www.americanexpress.com/us/credit-cards/card/gold-card/?searchresult=amex+gold+card))
• Samsung Galaxy Card is a smart add for Samsung users: no annual fee, $200 early‑life bonus, 5% direct with Samsung, and 3% whenever you pay via Samsung Wallet. If you were already eyeing a new Galaxy device or TV, this one’s low‑friction value. ([news.samsung.com](https://news.samsung.com/us/samsung-introducing-galaxy-card/))

Also new this season: cruise loyalists should peek at Bank of America’s Royal ONE Plus (4x on Royal Caribbean/Celebrity/Silversea purchases, $200 anniversary reward after qualifying spend, and a $120 TSA PreCheck/Global Entry credit), and road‑trippers who like midscale hotels may find Wyndham’s refreshed Barclays lineup—now including a premium Earner Premier tier with richer earn and statement credits—fits nicely as a niche fourth card. ([prnewswire.com](https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/royal-caribbean-group-enhances-travel-loyalty-partners-with-bank-of-america-to-launch-royal-one-and-royal-one-plus-credit-cards-302730110.html))

Make the strategy effortless with SuperPay

If you add even one of these cards, SuperPay eliminates the guesswork at checkout. Our Smart Card Picker tells you exactly which card to use at each store—walk into a gas station or grocery, and you’ll know in a tap whether Sapphire or Gold wins there (and if using Samsung Wallet bumps the return to 3%).

Then snap your receipt with SuperPay’s Receipt Scanner to see what you earned versus what you could’ve earned with a better card (or by booking through Chase Travel or Amex Travel). It’s the fastest way to turn “I think this is the right card” into verified results—and to spot easy moves like shifting streaming to Samsung or prepaying one hotel night to trigger 5x.

Your next move

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