If you're in the market for a new phone, the next few days leading up to Labor Day may be the best time to upgrade. Ahead of Black Friday and the holiday season, Labor Day is one of the few occasions when retailers and carriers will slash prices across their latest handsets. This year's list includes Samsung, Google, and even Apple.
Below, I've rounded up the very best Labor Day deals that you can already take advantage of, most of which will save you hundreds of dollars on phones ZDNET has tested and recommends.
While the Galaxy S24 Ultra was released back in January, Samsung packed so many features and flagship specs in the device to keep it ever-relevant seasons later. In fact, it's still regarded as the best phone we've tested so far this year, besting the newest Google, OnePlus, and Motorola phones. This offer is for the 256GB model, with a 200MP main camera, and built-in S Pen.
It's easy to forget about the Motorola Edge 2024 when there are so many phones on the market this year, but it's one of the better-value handsets you can buy. At its discounted price of $449, you're getting 256GB of storage (twice that of some expensive phones), a 6.6-inch AMOLED display with 144Hz, a dual-camera system, and more.
One of the best foldable phones we've tested, the OnePlus Open offers a dual-screen experience that's satisfyingly lightweight and easy to manage. The aspect ratio makes the transition from phone to tablet seamless, and OnePlus' 67-watt fast charging tech can keep the phone powered much faster than competing handsets.
The OnePlus 12R is one of ZDNET's sleeper picks for best budget phone of the year, with a competitive $599 price point that packages a flagship processor, a 120Hz display, and fast charging that will get you a day's worth of power in minutes. Right now, it's discounted by 20%, making it even more accessible.
If you're looking for an iPhone that still supports a physical SIM card, whether for traveling or easier contact transferring, consider the older iPhone 13 model. It still supports 3-4 years of software updates, and the software experience is mostly the same as newer iPhones.
This year, Labor Day will be observed on Monday, September 2.
Yes, phones are often cheaper on Labor Day, matching the level of discount you'd find in a Black Friday or Cyber Monday deal. This is partly because Labor Day happens in September, months after most manufacturers like Samsung, OnePlus, Google, and Motorola have launched new devices in the first half of the year. With the amount of time that has passed, you'll often see the more recent phones discounted by a good amount at this time.
ZDNET chooses Labor Day deals based on the percentage of discount compared to the original price ($5 off a $20 item is just as good as $250 off a $1,000 item), how significant the discount is compared to pricing history, and whether our experts have tested and recommended the product.
We also look at deals from a wider scope, considering better alternatives, unique use cases, stock, and existing customer reviews on websites like Amazon, Best Buy, and Reddit. The best deals will save you a decent amount of money while giving you a truly worthwhile product.