Don’t be fooled by free phone deals! The real Black Friday phone deal to get is this Pixel 10 Pro XL one

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It's the one I'd buy with my own money

Pixel 10 Pro XL in different colors.
(Image credit: Future)

I don’t understand why people continue to go after carrier phone deals at this point. I’ve been looking for the best Black Friday phone deals for the past several weeks, but the best one I’ve seen to date is Mint Mobile’s offer for the Pixel 10 Pro XL.

Essentially, you pay a total of $679 plus tax at checkout for Google’s latest and greatest flagship model. This consists of two discounts: a $700 off instant savings for the hardware and $180 off the accompanying unlimited cell phone plan. Normally, you’d pay $1,199 for the phone by itself and then another $360 for the service — totaling $1,559. Like, really, $679 for a new phone and service blows my mind.

Google Pixel 10 Pro XL
Save 57% ($881)
Google Pixel 10 Pro XL: was $1,559 now $678 at Mint Mobile

The Pixel 10 Pro XL is the best AI phone around with its myriad of helpful features, including the ability to type what photo edits you want with Ask Photos, getting better advice with Camera Coach, and the impressive performance of telephoto zoom shots with Pro Res Zoom. It's powered by the Tensor G5, which really helps these AI features run so smoothly.

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Another reason why this is my favorite Black Friday phone deal is that it puts those free phone offers to the test when you look at the total cost of ownership. Carriers like Verizon and T-Mobile have a free iPhone 17 deal going on right now, but while the cost of the device comes out to be free, you’re often forced into lengthy service agreements — and usually on the most expensive unlimited data plan.

Take Verizon, for example, which is asking $90 per month for 36 months to get the iPhone 17 for free. Sure, it’s great you’re not paying anything for the device, but the service cost ends up being $3,240 for that term. In contrast, Mint Mobile’s Pixel 10 Pro XL deal is a flat cost of $679 plus tax. If I had to buy a phone with my own money, this is the one I’d pick.

Google Pixel 10 Pro hands-on.

(Image credit: Tom's Guide / John Velasco)

That’s also because the Pixel 10 Pro XL has everything I want. I’ve tested out many of its AI features, like how Pro Res Zoom delivers the best telephoto camera results around. There’s also the Ask Photos feature in Google Photos, which makes tedious photo edits a breeze by simply typing what I want. Over on the productivity side, I also love tapping into its hidden Android 16 desktop mode.

In addition, I put the Pixel 10 Pro XL vs Galaxy S25 Ultra to the test to show you exactly how Google’s flagship model stacks up to Samsung’s very best. Meanwhile, I think you’ll be surprised by how well the Pixel 10 Pro XL’s triple cameras perform in my 200 photo shootout against the iPhone 17 Pro Max. And surprisingly, too, I found its macro capabilities to be superb as well when I took it on a day trip to the Brooklyn Botanical Garden.

For more discounts, check out our Black Friday deals live blog.

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John Velasco
John Velasco
Senior Channel Editor for Phones

John’s a senior editor covering phones for Tom’s Guide. He’s no stranger in this area having covered mobile phones and gadgets since 2008 when he started his career. On top of his editor duties, he’s a seasoned videographer being in front and behind the camera producing YouTube videos. Previously, he held editor roles with PhoneArena, Android Authority, Digital Trends, and SPY. Outside of tech, he enjoys producing mini documentaries and fun social clips for small businesses, enjoying the beach life at the Jersey Shore, and recently becoming a first time homeowner.

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