It's almost Black Friday and the deals are heating up. We've seen some great deals all week, but now, hours from the main event, is a great time to snag a a steep discount on devices from Apple, Samsung, Google, and more.
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 this week.
The year isn't over yet, but the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra will be 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
One of the best flip phones on the market, you can buy Motorola's latest foldable for $250 off for Black Friday. For the money, you get a compact handset with dual cameras, dual screens, and your choice of charmingly bold color. The new Razr Plus model is also Samsung's most durable one yet.
Review: Motorola Razr Plus (2024)
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 for Black Friday.
Review: Google Pixel 9
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, 256GB of storage, 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
For a limited time, you can pick up Samsung's flagship foldable phone for its lowest price yet, no trade-in required. You'll save an additional $300 when you opt for one of Samsung's online-exclusive colors, including Crafted Black and White. For the money, the Z Fold 6 gives you two screens in one device, with a flagship Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor powering all of its Galaxy AI capabilities. Just make sure to grab a nice case for the phone if you don't want to pay extra for insurance.
If you're looking to switch carriers this holiday season, T-Mobile has an enticing offer that nets you four iPhone 16 models for free when you trade in eligible devices, start four new lines at $25 per line, and agree to 24 months of bill credits. While it's not the Pro model, the standard iPhone 16 is almost just as feature-packed, with the same Camera Control and Action Button as its more expensive siblings.
The Motorola Razr is not as flashy as the Plus model, but this year's standard option takes the crown for best cheap foldable you can buy, especially at its $450 price at Best Buy. For the price, you're essentially getting last year's Razr Plus model, with its expansive outer display and dual cameras, for much less money.
The smaller Google Pixel 9 Pro is better than ever, with the same camera system as its XL sibling but in a much more comfortable form factor. The phone has a 6.2-inch OLED display that gets plenty bright outdoors, the latest Tensor G4 chip for AI features, and a sleek new design that makes the Pixel feel more polished than ever. It's $200 off for Black Friday, and you'll save just as much if you opt for the XL model.
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 $500 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.
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:
And more Black Friday deals: