This year's Black Friday may be the most competitive shopping season yet, with the biggest retailers and carriers battling it out to serve you the best phone deals. If you're doing some early holiday shopping (or just missed out on Prime Day sales last month), we're already seeing aggressive offers from Samsung, Google, Motorola, and, yes, even Apple.
The phone deals below will save you a significant amount of money on some of the best handsets we've tested and recommend at ZDNET. You'll also find links to the retailer with the best offer, whether that's Best Buy, Amazon, Verizon, or AT&T. Stay tuned as the list will be constantly updated as new deals appear going into Black Friday.
While the Galaxy S24 Ultra was released 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 Apple phones. This offer is for the 512GB model, with a 200MP main camera, and built-in S Pen.
Review: Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra
While the OnePlus 12 launched before most flagship phones this year, it's stood the test of time with its performant Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset, peak brightness of up to 4,500 nits, 65W fast charging, and slim design. Its curved edges may not be for everyone (and every screen protector), but the flagship Android phone has almost no other hardware flaw.
Review: OnePlus 12
Last year's OnePlus Open was so ahead of the competition that it's still one of the best foldable phones you can buy in 2024. Its current discount of $400 nets you a dual-screen foldable with 16GB of RAM, 512GB of storage (basically double that of most flagship phones), and 67W wired charging. The phone is also surprisingly comfortable to hold, with a smaller outer display and lighter build than most foldables.
Review: OnePlus Open
Carrier deals are almost always too good to be true, but if you meet all the right requirements and are willing to exchange loyalty for a discounted iPhone, things may just work out. Case in point, this Boost Mobile deal will cover the cost of the latest iPhone 16 Pro, with the requirement being to enroll in the brand's wireless plan ($65 a month over 36 months). If you were already considering switching carrier plans or starting a new one, this deal is worth considering.
Review: Apple iPhone 16 Pro
The Motorola Razr (2023) is one of the more accessible foldable phones on the market, and this early Black Friday deal makes it even more so. While the outer display is not as large as the flagship flip phones, its inner display is the same size as Razr's more expensive sibling, Razr Plus. Right now, you can buy the Razr at a $350 mark-down.
Review: Motorola Razr (2023)
Black Friday takes place on Friday, Nov. 29, 2024. However, expect retailers to begin early discounts and sales weeks before.
Cyber Monday is happening on Monday, Dec. 2, 2024, following Black Friday.
Yes, phones are often cheaper on Black Friday, matching (if not beating) the level of discount you'd find during any other major shopping event. This is partly because Black Friday happens months after most manufacturers like Samsung, OnePlus, Google, and Apple have launched new devices. With the amount of time that has passed, you'll often see the more recent phones discounted by a good amount at this time.
While Black Friday's online presence has risen exponentially over the past decade, Cyber Monday was the original "online only" commerce event. Still, you'll find deals in-store and online for both occasions. In some cases, retailers will list new deals during Cyber Monday, especially for products or inventory that didn't sell as much during Black Friday a few days earlier.
ZDNET chooses Black Friday 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.
There's no beating in-person shopping that begins on the eve of Black Friday, and retailers such as Amazon, Best Buy, Target, and Walmart have made it a point to reward those who do. However, you can still find similar discounts online -- and with a higher chance of securing a product before it's snatched by someone else.
Besides big-box retailers, most carriers and e-commerce brands will also host some form of Black Friday and Cyber Monday promotion; simply visit your preferred destinations and see what's available. It won't hurt to try.