UPDATE: Black Friday is now over, but the deals aren't. Check our Cyber Monday phone deals to see what's available.
In this run down of the best Black Friday phone deals you can find handsets from Appel, Samsung, OnePlus and more, for a lot less.
Phones are already making up a big portion of the Black Friday deals this year. In light of that, should you see a phone you want on sale, you should jump on that right away. That way you can get that handset in time for the holidays.
Some of the best phone deals so far include free iPhone 13 with trade-in and massive discounts on the Google Pixel 6 and Galaxy S21. These are the best Black Friday phone deals that have caught our eye so far.
Top Black Friday phone deals today
- Google Pixel 5a: was $449 now $349 @ GoogleFi (opens in new tab)
- Samsung Galaxy S21: was $799 now $249 w/ trade-in @ Samsung (opens in new tab)
- Google Pixel 6: was $599 now $499 at Best Buy (opens in new tab)
- OnePlus 9 Pro: was $1,069 now $899 @ Amazon (opens in new tab)
- Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3: was $1,799 now $649 w/ trade-in @ Samsung (opens in new tab)
- iPhone 13: up to $1,600 w/ trade-in + unlimited @ Verizon (opens in new tab)
Black Friday phone deals
Amazon
Best Buy
Walmart
Samsung
Motorola
Nokia
ZTE
Carrier deals
Black Friday phone deals — how to find the best sales
Every year, phones high and low go on sale for Black Friday. Sometimes they're unlocked, other times they have some carrier deal attached to them. Either way, this is one of the best times of the year to buy a new phone.
Samsung: We usually see big sales from Samsung, as you may have noticed already. From last year's flagships to this year's affordable options, Samsung typically offers nice discounts on Black Friday. However at the moment, Samsung's prices have gone up a bit, so it's probably best to wait a day or two to see if the full discounts return.
Motorola: Motorola is another player in Black Friday phone deals. While the company doesn't play in the big leagues like Samsung, it does offer slight discounts on its more popular, affordable devices.
iPhone: Apple is usually pretty stingy with iPhone deals unless it's on older models. Don't expect to see wild sales on the new iPhone 13 series, but the iPhone 11, iPhone 12, and iPhone SE have all seen discounts in one place or another. The real place to get a good deal on an iPhone is through a carrier, often with BOGO or trade-in deals. We have a comprehensive list of the best iPhone Black Friday deals and best iPhone 13 Black Friday deals for your reference.
Should I buy a phone on Black Friday?
For the most part, this is one of the better times to buy a phone, unlocked or tied to a carrier. Samsung has stellar deals with trade-ins, some carriers have great offers, and you can find some decent sales on Amazon or Best Buy. If you've been holding off on a new phone for 2021, now's a good time to upgrade.
How do I get the best Black Friday phone deals?
It can take a bit of searching, especially sifting through substandard or deceptive sales, but it's easiest if you know what phone you're looking for. Take the Galaxy S21 for example. You could search Amazon or Best Buy to see if there's a deal or sale, or you can check with your carrier (or one you want to switch to). Sometimes, the phone makers also have special deals, like Samsung or Apple (usually requiring a trade-in).
Do I have to trade-in my old phone?
No, nothing says you have to, but you'll often lose out on the savings. You could try to sell it secondhand to recoup some of the costs of purchasing the new phone (especially if you buy unlocked), and you can sometimes get more cash than the trade-in deals the carriers or stores offer. That, however, requires more footwork and effort on your part and only takes away the sting of the new phone's cost in the long run. So it all depends on what you're looking for. If you're ready to say goodbye to your old phone, it's by far easier to trade it in or hand it down to a friend or family member.
