In short: A pre-owned Samsung ultrasound system is a sound choice when it comes with a documented service history, tested probes, current software and a warranty from a Swiss distributor. A new system is the better choice when you need the latest imaging packages, a specific probe set, or a system you will use daily for the next six to eight years. In both cases the probes and the service cover matter more than the console's age. Meditron SA, the official Samsung Healthcare distributor in Switzerland, sells both new and certified pre-owned Samsung systems.

Key takeaways

• Probes and service cover matter more than the age of the console.

• Pre-owned makes sense for a second room, a starting practice, routine exams with standard probes, or bridging.

• New is better for current imaging packages, a specific probe set, daily high-volume use and the longest support horizon.

• Check nine things on any pre-owned system: age, probes, service history, software, operating hours, regulatory status, warranty, installation and data wipe.

• A marketplace price rarely includes delivery to Switzerland, installation, DICOM, training or an enforceable warranty.

Last reviewed: September 2026. Author: Christelle Sam-Hine, Application Specialist Ultrasound.

New or pre-owned ultrasound system: what is the difference?

When is a new ultrasound system the better choice?

New is the better choice in four situations:

• You need current imaging packages. AI-assisted measurements, liver quantification, advanced 3D/4D obstetrics and the latest probe designs are available only on current platforms such as the Samsung V8, HERA Z20 and R20.

• You will use it daily for years. At 20 or more exams a day, a new system with a full service contract has the lowest cost per exam over its life.

• You need a specific probe set. Pre-owned systems come with the probes their previous owner had. If your specialty needs an endocavity, sector or volume probe that is missing, the price difference shrinks quickly.

• You want the longest warranty and support horizon. New systems carry the full manufacturer warranty and the longest guaranteed availability of parts and software updates.

When does a pre-owned ultrasound system make sense?

Pre-owned makes sense in four situations:

• A second room or a second location. The same exams, a lower volume, a smaller budget.

• A new practice. Lower initial capital, with the option to trade up once the patient base is established.

• Routine exams with standard probes. Abdomen, thyroid, vessels, basic gynaecology: a three- to five-year-old Samsung system with convex and linear probes handles these well.

• Bridging. A pre-owned system while a new one is on order, or while a room is being refurbished.

What should I check on a pre-owned ultrasound system?

Nine checks, in the order a Meditron service engineer would do them:

Which questions should I ask the seller of a pre-owned ultrasound system?

• When was the system manufactured, and when does manufacturer support end?

• Can I see the probe test report and the service history?

• Which software version and packages are licensed, and are updates included?

• How many operating hours does the system log?

• Is the system CE-marked and placed on the Swiss market in line with Swissmedic requirements?

• What warranty do you give, who repairs, and where is the nearest engineer?

• Is installation, DICOM connection and training included?

• Has the patient data been wiped, and is that documented?

Should I buy a used ultrasound system from a marketplace or from a distributor?

From a distributor, if the system will be used on patients every day. Searches for used Samsung ultrasound systems mostly lead to foreign marketplaces. The listed price is usually lower, but it rarely includes delivery to Switzerland, customs, installation, DICOM integration, training or a warranty that can be enforced here. Probe faults discovered after delivery are the buyer's problem.

A Swiss distributor sells pre-owned systems that its own engineers have inspected, with tested probes, current software, a warranty and the same installation and training as a new system. The price is higher than the marketplace listing and lower than new. That difference buys certainty.

What does "certified pre-owned" mean at Meditron?

Meditron takes systems back in part exchange when customers upgrade. Each system that goes back on sale is inspected by Meditron's service engineers, the probes are tested, the software is updated and patient data is wiped. Systems are sold with a warranty, installed and configured in your practice, and the team is trained by Meditron applications specialists. Availability varies, so ask what is currently in stock.

Next step

Ask about current pre-owned availability or read how much a Samsung ultrasound system costs in Switzerland. Overview of all models: Samsung ultrasound at Meditron.

Sources: Samsung Healthcare product specifications (as listed on meditron.ch); Swissmedic, Swiss Agency for Therapeutic Products; Meditron SA service practice.

Author: Christelle Sam-Hine, Application Specialist Ultrasound, Meditron SA. Reviewed by: Dr. Henri Hagenmüller, Managing Director. Last updated: September 2026.