I cover wireless carriers — these are their best phone deals heading into Cyber Monday

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Don't overlook wireless carriers if you want a top phone deal

best wireless carrier phone deals for black friday
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Editor's Note: The main event is here, and we are covering all the best Cyber Monday phone deals right now! Whether you're an iOS or Android user, we've found the cream of the savings crop.

Now that people are turning their attention to the best Cyber Monday deals, I hope any search for a discount on a phone includes checking out the offers that wireless carriers are making this weekend. Because if you want a top Cyber Monday phone deal, chances are you'll find it with the company that provides wireless service for that device.

This time of year, all of the best phone carriers are looking to bring in new customers, and they figure the best way to do that is by offering phones at a very low cost — and in some instances, no cost at all.

Wireless providers aren't letting you have the latest iPhone, Samsung device or other handset at considerable discounts out of the kindess of their hearts — they want something in return. Namely, by distributing credits for your free phones over 24 to 36 months, phone carriers can ensure a couple of years of you paying for their wireless service.

Which is not to say you should turn your nose up at any of these offers — getting a free flagship phone is almost always a winning proposition. You should just know the terms of these deals heading into your shopping spree, so that you know what's required of you, whether it's a device trade-in, committing to an unlimited data plan or both.

I lead the coverage for wireless carriers here at Tom's Guide, so I'm always keeping an eye out for the deals they're offering on smartphones and monthly service. If your holiday wishlist includes a new phone, these are the best offers on phones I've found this weekend. I've also included a few deals that look to reduce what you spend on your monthly cell phone bill instead of your next phone.

Best Black Friday deals available at wireless carriers right now

Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus: was $999 now free with Galaxy Watch 6 @ Verizon

Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus: was $999 now free with Galaxy Watch 6 @ Verizon
If you've got a phone to trade-in, you can get up to $1,000 in credit spread out over 36 months. That's enough to cover the cost of a Galaxy S23 Plus, which offers the same excellent cameras as the S23 on a device with a larger screen. Additionally, you can get a free Galaxy Watch 6 with your phone purchase, though you'll need to activate that smartwatch on an eligible plan.

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iPhone 15 Pro: was $999 now free with trade-in + unlimited plan @ AT&T

iPhone 15 Pro: was $999 now free with trade-in + unlimited plan @ AT&T
AT&T has an "on us" offer of its own when you trade-in your current phone and sign up for an unlimited plan that costs $75/month or more. That gets you $1,000 in credits covering the purchase of an iPhone 15 Pro, with those credits spread out over 36 months. 

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Google Pixel 8 Pro: was $999 now free with trade-in + unlimited plan @ T-Mobile

Google Pixel 8 Pro: was $999 now free with trade-in + unlimited plan @ T-Mobile
You can get enough credit to pay for your Google Pixel 8 Pro when you trade in your current device and sign up for an unlimited data plan at T-Mobile. Eligible plans are Go5G Next and Go5G Plus, T-Mobile's most expensive options for coverage. On the bright side, T-Mobile spreads out your credits over 24 months, not 36 months like AT&T and Verizon. T-Mobile offers similar deals for the latest iPhone and Galaxy S models, too.

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iPhone 15 Pro: was $999 now $60/month @ Boost Infinite

iPhone 15 Pro: was $999 now $60/month @ Boost Infinite
Boost Infinite's offer is unique in that it requires no trade-in to get a discounted iPhone. Essentially, you're paying the carrier $60/month for unlimited data combined with an iPhone 15 Pro. Considering that's the cost of unlimited data at most other carriers, that's a pretty solid exchange. You're able to upgrade to a new phone after a year, though that resets your 36-month agreement with Boost.

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Buy 3 months of wireless service, get 3 months free @ Mint Mobile

Buy 3 months of wireless service, get 3 months free @ Mint Mobile
You don't need to buy a new phone to take advantage of this Mint Mobile deal, which offers discounts on the carrier's already low-cost service. Pay for three months of any Mint plan — there are four, ranging from a 5GB offering for $15/month to a $30 unlimited plan — and you'll get three more months for free. After that, you'll need to pay for a full year of service to keep your low rate on Mint's service, which uses T-Mobile's network for coverage.

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Buy an iPhone or Pixel, save up to $240 on service @ Visible I

Buy an iPhone or Pixel, save up to $240 on service @ Visible
In this deal, you won't get a discount on the phone you buy at Visible, but the Verizon-owned wireless service will reduce the cost of your monthly service by a total of either $120 or $240 over the next two years. The discount applies to the Visible Plus plan, which at $45/month is the carrier's most expensive unlimited data plan (though it also has the most perks for customers). Eligible devices any iPhone 15 model, plus the iPhone 14 or iPhone 14 Plus and the Pixel 8 and 8 Pro, Pixel 7 and 7a and the Pixel 6a.

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Sign up for 1 line of unlimited data, get a 2nd line free for 12 months @ Xfinity Mobile

Sign up for 1 line of unlimited data, get a 2nd line free for 12 months @ Xfinity Mobile
Adding to the ranks of carriers offering discounts on data instead of devices, Xfinity Mobile is offering a free line of its Unlimited Intro service. New and existing customers who sign up for one line of unlimited data can get a second one for free for the next 12 months. With two lines of unlimited data at Xfinity costing $30 per line each month, that's a savings of $360 over the full year of this offer.

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There's one other deal I want to call your attention to, though since it only runs through Sunday (November 26), it may be gone by the time Cyber Monday rolls around. Still, if you want one of the better midrange phones to come out this year, you can pick up a Samsung Galaxy A54 for $139 @ Straight Talk. When I reviewed the Samsung Galaxy A54, the phone cost $449, so that's a considerable discount, especially when you consider that the A54 features the same 50MP main camera used by the pricier Galaxy S23.

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Philip Michaels
Philip Michaels

Philip Michaels is a Managing Editor at Tom's Guide. He's been covering personal technology since 1999 and was in the building when Steve Jobs showed off the iPhone for the first time. He's been evaluating smartphones since that first iPhone debuted in 2007, and he's been following phone carriers and smartphone plans since 2015. He has strong opinions about Apple, the Oakland Athletics, old movies and proper butchery techniques. Follow him at @PhilipMichaels.