Best Cheap Smartphone Deals for July 2021

Smartphones don’t last forever, even when protected with display shields and custom phone cases. While the best smartphones aren’t cheap, we can help you save some cash if it’s time for a new mobile. We’ve gathered below all the best cheap smartphone deals available this week that cover all the bases including Google Pixel deals, Samsung Galaxy deals, iPhone deals, 5G phone deals, and other bargains.

These discounts can save you hundreds, so if you’ve got some cash left burning a hole in your pocket and you’re hungry for more, definitely check out these smartwatch deals as well.

Today’s best smartphone deals

Carrier offers usually require you to sign up for a specific service (usually an unlimited plan), trade in an old device, or port in your current number to get the best possible discount, and this is often the best way to score a deal on a brand-name smartphone — particularly just released newer models. That’s not always a viable option, however, so these smartphone deals also include some great unlocked devices that you can bring to a service provider of your choice:

Apple iPhone XR, 64GB, Fully Unlocked (Renewed) — $380, was $440
Samsung Galaxy A71 5G (Sprint) — $400, was $500
OnePlus 8 (128GB, Unlocked) — $465, was $699
Microsoft Surface Duo 128GB (GSM Unlocked) — $606, was $1,400
OnePlus 8T (Unlocked) — $700, was $750
OnePlus 8 Pro (12GB RAM, 256GB Storage, Unlocked) — $900, was $999
Samsung Galaxy S21 5G (Verizon) — Save up to $1100 when you switch and trade in your old or damaged phone., was $800

The OnePlus 8 Pro is one of our favorite OnePlus phones. It holds its own with the iPhone 12 and Galaxy S20 with its world-class display and buttery smooth performance — and it's cheaper. More Less

Buy at Amazon

WITH ACTIVATION

Thanks to its AMOLED+ screen, the A71 has a bigger and brighter display that lets you watch media and take photos and videos clearly. And with a 64MP main camera, you can capture moments in hi-res. More Less

Buy at Best Buy

With its long-lasting battery and 5G connectivity, the new Galaxy S21 is the ideal Samsung smartphone for those who want the a new flagship -- without paying nearly a grand. More Less

Buy at Verizon

Samsung currently has one of the best trade-in deals, offering the Galaxy Note 20 for as low as $325 or the Note 20 Ultra for as low as $600. Activate with any major carrier or buy unlocked. More Less

Buy at Samsung

FOR NEW CUSTOMERS

If you're looking to ditch the traditional carriers for a more economical prepaid service provider, then Cricket Wireless has the new iPhone SE on sale for a nice discount if you bring your number. More Less

Buy Now

You can't beat a classic -- especially when it's free. New or current Verizon customers who sign up for an unlimited plan can score the 2020 iPhone SE for no charge. More Less

Buy at Verizon

FREE $100 SAMSUNG CREDIT

If you have a device to trade and you aren't interested in carrier BOGO or bill credit rebates, Samsung has a nice trade-in offer when you buy the new Galaxy S21, S21 Plus, or S21 Ultra. More Less

Buy at Samsung

T-Mobile has a ton of offers for new and current customers on all models of the new iPhone 12, with massive savings available (via bill credits) when you trade in and switch. More Less

Buy at T-Mobile

Powered by 2020 Qualcomm Snapdragon 662 processor, 48MP triple camera system, and 6.6" Max Vision HD, you can capture all the fun moments without worrying about battery, thanks to a 5,000mAh battery. More Less

Buy at Amazon

PROTECT YOUR TECH

Protect your new tech with an extended warranty that covers accidental damage, power failures, screen burn-in, and more (depending on the category). Better yet, pay in installments and save a ton! More Less

SAVE MORE AT UPSIE

The 2019 Google Pixel 4 is still a fantastic phone and an unbeatable value now that the Pixel 5 is out. New or current Verizon customers can score what might be the best price on one right now. More Less

Buy at Amazon

Samsung Galaxy smartphone deals

More than ten years after their inception, Samsung’s Galaxy smartphones still command the lion’s share of the Android smartphone market and could arguably be considered Apple’s main competition worldwide (although Apple currently enjoys a larger market share in the U.S. than all Android phone brands combined). As you probably inferred from the name, the 2019 Galaxy S10 phones represent the tenth generation of Samsung’s main flagship line, but Samsung got in the spirit of 2020 when it rolled out the new S-series flagship — dubbed the Galaxy S20 — at its February Galaxy Unpacked event. The Galaxy family also features the Note smartphones that occupy kind of a weird space as alternative flagships featuring larger displays and included stylus pens, and we were more impressed with the new Note 20 and Note 20 Ultra than with the S-series devices. Samsung also recently revealed the unique Galaxy Z Flip, a new spin on the old flip-phone concept, along with the larger (almost iPad Mini-like when in use) Samsung Galaxy Fold.

As far as the new 2021 offerings go, the release strategy hasn’t changed much from last year with three next-generation Galaxy devices to choose from: The Galaxy S21, the larger Galaxy S21 Plus, and the premium Galaxy S21 Ultra (which is far and away our favorite of the bunch). They’re all solid phones as you’d expect, although the Samsung didn’t exactly re-invent the wheel. Your best bet when looking for a deal on new releases like these is to take advantage of the carrier offers below, but if you don’t mind last-gen stuff, you can also find great deals on carrier-unlocked models like the Galaxy S10, Note 10, and similar 2019 flagships.

Apple iPhone deals

The Apple iPhone is the device that brought smartphones into the limelight, and more than a decade later, the series is still going strong. We saw the release of not two, but three new models (an industry trend that has become the norm in recent years) in 2019 with the mid-range iPhone 11, the flagship iPhone 11 Pro, and the up-sized iPhone 11 Pro Max. For 2020, Apple actually released four new flagships — the iPhone 12, iPhone 12 Mini, iPhone 12 Pro, and iPhone 12 Pro Max, and Apple also recently brought back the iPhone SE, (with the second-gen SE representing a great mid-range flagship alternative similar to Google’s Pixel 3a). That makes five new Apple phones for 2020, giving you more options than ever if you’re after a new iPhone.

Unfortunately, Apple iPhone deals can be a little hard to find sometimes. Often, the best way to save hundreds is to either take advantage of a carrier sign-up offer or to simply buy refurbished, but savvy bargain-hunters can still find prepaid or unlocked iPhone deals on new and slightly older models if they look around. Now is an especially good time to look for deals on recently discontinued devices such as the iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max, which are great flagships from 2018 that are much cheaper now but not too dated for use as your everyday smartphone.

LG smartphone deals

LG Velvet Screen — Andy Boxall/Digital Trends

Sorting through LG’s flagship offerings can be a little confusing due to some odd naming conventions, but there’s no denying that this brand pumps out some very good Android smartphones. Not unlike Samsung, LG has two different flagship lines: The standard G-series devices and the premium V-series phones, both of which now bear LG’s “ThinQ” branding. In 2019, the company added three new devices to the G series stable, the LG G8 ThinQ (the successor to the 2018 G7 ThinQ), and the truly unique dual-screen ThinQ G8x, while the V series saw a refresh in the newer 5G-capable LG V50 ThinQ that succeeded the 2018 V35 ThinQ and LG V40 ThinQ. Even more recently, we saw the LG Velvet and dual-screen LG V60 ThinQ.

LG’s newest offerings didn’t excite us quite as much as others have, but they’re still solid Android devices and are worth it if you can find a good deal — which, with our help, you can. Carriers frequently offer discounts, rebates, and BOGO offers on these premium LG devices, but you can also find some nice unlocked smartphone deals sometimes, even on the latest models. And of course, if you want the best deal on a flagship you can still find new (and not used or refurbished), don’t turn up your nose on slightly older picks like the LG G7 ThinQ or the LG G6.

Google Pixel smartphone deals

Google was late to the hardware game, but given that this software titan is the brain behind the Android operating system, it’s no surprise that its Pixel phones deliver what might be the best out-of-the-box Android experience to be found in a mobile device. In contrast to decade-old devices like the iPhone or Galaxy, Google’s Pixel devices are currently only in their fifth generation. The Pixel 4 and Pixel 4 XL were released last fall, bringing with them some notable improvements like fully metal-and-glass construction (ditching the partially plastic backside of previous models) along with a new three-lens camera module. These were followed by the shockingly cheap Pixel 4a and the new fifth-gen flagship, the Google Pixel 5.

These flagship smartphones are affordable compared to the competition, too (given that Apple and Samsung are now releasing flagships in the $1,000-plus range). Google’s staggered smartphone release strategy means that we may see a new Pixel 5a next spring, but for now, the sub-$400 Pixel 4a is the one to buy if you want one of these devices on the cheap. Also, while deals on the Pixel 5 might be scarce this early after its launch, the Pixel 4 and Pixel 4 XL are still worthy buys that can be had for deep discounts now.

Carrier smartphone deals

Cellular service providers regularly offer enticing incentives to get you to switch to their LTE plans. Carrier offers are also often the best way to score deals on new flagships like the iPhone 12 and Samsung Galaxy S20. If you’re looking for a new carrier, you can save a good chunk of change and even score a free device by taking advantage of one of the many smartphone deals that are always available from Sprint, T-Mobile, Verizon, or AT&T, although note that these promotions are often given in the form of bill credits rather than regular discounts.

These carrier offers change all the time, but you can check out each service provider’s updated deal page right here:

T-Mobile
Verizon
AT&T
Sprint

We strive to help our readers find the best deals on quality products and services, and we choose what we cover carefully and independently. The prices, details, and availability of the products and deals in this post may be subject to change at anytime. Be sure to check that they are still in effect before making a purchase.

Digital Trends may earn commission on products purchased through our links, which supports the work we do for our readers.

Today’s best smartphone deals

Samsung Galaxy smartphone deals

Apple iPhone deals

LG smartphone deals

Google Pixel smartphone deals

Carrier smartphone deals

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