Black Friday 2024 is shaping up to be one of the most competitive shopping events yet, with top retailers and carriers battling to deliver the best phone deals. Whether you're gearing up for holiday shopping or catching up after missing last month's Prime Day, great offers from Samsung, Google, Motorola, and even Apple are already rolling out.
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. For example, carriers like Verizon and T-Mobile are offering "On Us" promotions that can get you the latest iPhone, Samsung, or Google Pixel for free with a qualifying trade-in. You'll also find links to the retailer with the best offer for various phones below, whether that's Best Buy, Amazon, or AT&T. Keep an eye out, as we'll be continuously updating the list with new deals leading up to Black Friday.
While the year hasn't ended yet, the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra remains ZDNET's top pick for best phone of 2024. The big selling point with the Ultra model is its maximalist approach to being a smartphone, giving you all the features you could need, including a built-in S Pen stylus, upwards of 1TB of storage, and a quad-camera system. For a limited time, you can pick up the 512GB of storage variant for the same price as the 256GB.
Review: Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra
The Google Pixel 9 is the phone I recommend to most people in 2024. It doesn't have the flashiest features, like a dedicated telephoto lens or LTPO display, but it's a well-rounded package that holds up against phones that cost hundreds of dollars more. With seven years of software support, Google AI features, and a very capable camera system, you've got one of the safest, best-value phones on sale ahead of Black Friday.
Review: Google Pixel 9
One of the best flip phones on the market, you can buy Samsung's latest foldable for $250 off ahead of Black Friday. For the money, you get a compact handset with dual cameras, dual screens, and up to seven years of software features, operating system, and security updates. The new Z Flip 6 model is also Samsung's most durable one yet.
Review: Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6
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, including recent iPhone models, 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.
iPhones are cheaper during this time because carriers like Verizon, T-Mobile, and AT&T offer competitive trade-in and sign-on promotions. As long as you read the fine print about the qualifications, most of these deals will cover the retail cost of the new iPhone. You'll just have to agree to a long-term installment plan that ranges between 24 months to 36 months.
While Amazon has traditionally been the most competitive with its Black Friday smartphone deals, other retailers like Best Buy, Walmart, and Target have caught up in recent years. In fact, we're seeing top offers available across a variety of stores versus just one, which is a good thing for the retail landscape.
That said, I'd highly advise scanning the catalogs of the manufacturers themselves, such as Samsung, Motorola, Google, and Apple. Beyond discounts to the retail cost, manufacturers often bundle free wireless earbuds, chargers, and other accessories with your purchase. Since you're purchasing directly from the manufacturer, you'll also have a direct line with their customer support, should any problems with the product arise.
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.
ZDNET's experts have been searching through Black Friday sales live now to find the best discounts by category. These are the best Black Friday deals so far, by category:
You can also find the best Black Friday deals by price:
And the best Black Friday deals by retailer: