It's that time of year again. Black Friday week is upon us, and we've already seen major deals on some of the best Android phones. We won't beat around the bush: you're here for deals, and we've got a running list of Android phone deals that we've got our eye on leading up to the biggest shopping weekend of the year.
Among the best deals, you'll find major deals the Galaxy Z Flip 3 and Fold 3, $100 off newer phones like the Pixel 6, and really cheap deals on older Pixels and other budget brands. But we've also seen deals come and go on the Galaxy S21 and OnePlus 9. Stock is low on many popular handsets, and waiting until Black Friday for a better deal may risk you not getting that phone for anything less than full price.
When it comes to phone deals, you have three types: wholesale discounts from retailers, trade-in discounts and deals from manufacturers, and special deals from carriers. We're doing our best to find the best in all three categories.
We'll be scouring all the usual retailers and phone carriers to scope out any worthy offers and placing the best of them in the list below.
Black Friday Android phone deals: Samsung
Samsung has had some epic deals for Black Friday week, including only $250 for the Galaxy S20 FE, $200 off the S21 Ultra, or $300 off the S20 Note Ultra plus a free Chromebook. But many of these deals have expired since, leaving you with fewer options.
Among the best Black Friday Galaxy deals remaining, you can get $500 off the Z Flip 3 (depending on whether you trade in a phone) or $300 off the Z Fold 3 if you're in the market for a foldable. Otherwise, your best deals involve trading in a relatively new phone and signing a new deal with a carrier. There aren't many major Galaxy discounts without a contract.
Through Samsung's site, you can get rebates on the S21 ($100 off), S21+ ($150 off), or S21 Ultra ($200 off) on top of your trade-in rebate; the S21 is sold out on many sites, so this may be among the best deals you see.
Or, on Best Buy, you'll find Verizon trade-in offers on the S21 or Z series phones for up to $1,000 (new line) or $440 (upgrade line) depending on the quality of your phone. If you want a discount without a trade-in, T-Mobile is offering $200 off the S21, but you will have to get a new Magenta Max line.
Samsung Galaxy S21 series
Save up to $200 at Samsung Save up to $200 at Best Buy (T-Mobile) Save up to $1,000 with trade-in at Best Buy (Verizon)
A fantastic opportunity to upgrade to some of Samsung's latest Galaxy S phones while saving some cash, you'll find Unlocked options through Samsung or carrier options through Best Buy, Verizon, and T-Mobile.
If you're interested in a new foldable, the Galaxy Z Fold 3 is currently $300 off on Amazon. But that still leaves a hefty price tag to pay. Your better bet is to take advantage of a trade-in or activation offer.
Verizon is offering $1,000 in trade-in credits, $200 in bill reduction, and $400/$300 off with activation on the Z Fold 3 and Z Flip 3, respectively. AT&T is offering $300 off plus $1,000/$800 off the Fold and Flip, but with a wider selection of eligible phones for the full discount. And T-Mobile has its own savings, including $400 off without a trade-in plus $200 in bill savings.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3
$1,500 at Amazon ($300 off) Up to $1,600 off at Verizon/Best Buy Up to $1,300 off at AT&T/Best Buy Up to $1,050 off at T-Mobile/Best Buy
Samsung's premium foldable is an incredible experience to use, with lightning speeds, a gorgeous fast-refreshing display the size of a small tablet (when unfolded), S Pen support, and great software for multitasking. It's like no phone you've ever used before.
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3
Free at Verizon/Best Buy Up to $1,300 off at AT&T/Best Buy Up to $1,050 off at T-Mobile/Best Buy
The Galaxy Z Flip 3 features the same caliber of hardware as the Galaxy S21+, but the foldable design makes it much more portable. More than anything else, it's fun to close the screen when you're done using the phone. Combine that with the hardware and the fact that you get a $500 e-gift card from Walmart, and this is easily one of the best phone deals you'll find today.
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3
Save $300+ at Verizon/Best Buy Free (with trade-in) from AT&T
This vertical-folding phone is extremely compact in your pocket and stylish in your hand. It has a gorgeous 6.7-inch display and a 2-inch cover display when closed. With a Snapdragon 888 chipset and 8GB of RAM, it has much faster performance than you might expect. And it's a great deal if you have a phone to trade for it.
Last year, we saw savings up to $700 on the Galaxy S20 FE, $200 off the Note 20 Ultra, and $250 off the Galaxy Note 10 during Black Friday on retailer sites, plus some major discounts with carriers. That should give you an idea of what to expect when Black Friday officially arrives.
We hope to see better Black Friday phone deals on the Galaxy S21, S21+, and S21 Ultra — assuming stock is available — as well as some older S20 and Note 20 models. Plus, you can count on the Z Fold 3 getting some flashy discounts, even if it'll still cost you over a grand. But supply chain issues could affect how much stock is available or which phones get discounted.
Black Friday Android phone deals: Google Pixel
Right now, you can get $200 off the Pixel 6 or Pixel 6 Pro with a Verizon Unlimited plan, which is the best deal we've seen on the new phones. It's possible we'll see a no-strings-attached discount on the new Pixels on Black Friday itself, but there's no guarantee, given the phones have had low stock since launch.
Google Pixel 6 | $200 off
The Pixel 6 is our new top pick among the best Android phones available, thanks to its powerful cameras and AI tech through Google Tensor. At Verizon, you can buy it for $200 off with an Unlimited plan or save up to $700 with an eligible trade-in.
Google Pixel 6 Pro | $200 off
Upgrade to the Pixel 6 Pro for better RAM, display resolution, screen size, refresh rate, battery life, and an extra telephoto lens. It's pricier, but Black Friday makes it more affordable if you want to get the best Google has to offer.
As for the Pixel 5a, you can get it from the Google Store for $50 off, bringing its price down to $399. That's a solid price for a mid-range phone that we really like. You can get the superior Pixel 6 for the same price, but only if you commit to a carrier; the 5a lets you stick with what you have.
Google Pixel 5a with 5G | $50 off
The Google Pixel 5a is only a month old and is already down to its best price ever. Grab this amazing phone with fantastic battery life and an even better camera for less.
If you're willing to go even older, the Pixel 4a — still our top pick for the best budget Android phone — is $50 off as well, bringing its price down to $300.
Google Pixel 4a | $50 off
This deal oozes value, giving you the best budget phone for only $300. You'll get a Snapdragon 730G SoC, smooth performance, 128GB of storage, and that legendary Pixel photography.
Or if you want something both cheaper and larger, the former flagship Pixel 3 XL is down to $199 on B&H Photo right now, which we'd argue is still worth buying despite its age.
Google Pixel 3 XL
Google's three-year-old flagship has an excellent camera even by 2021 standards, including a fantastic wide-angle selfie shooter. And you'll also enjoy the same Android 12-based Pixel UI, as much newer Google phones like the Pixel 6 series.
Overall, we've seen a healthy chunk of Pixel deals this Black Friday, but don't expect them to last long. The Pixel 4a is frequently out of stock on most major sites, and the Pixel 6 has fallen in and out of stock as well. We saw some good carrier deals on the Pixel 6 from sites like Visible and Mint Mobile earlier in the month, only for them to run out of stock; Verizon could be next. And the Pixel 5a was launched as a limited release, so who knows how much stock Google has left.
So whichever model you want, act fast!
Black Friday Android phone deals: OnePlus
OnePlus has kindly taken all the mystery out of its Black Friday phone deals and has outlined what discounts to expect throughout the month of November.
Throughout November, the OnePlus 9 and OnePlus 9 Pro have had on-again/off-again discounts with consistently low sale prices: $599 ($130 off) and $799 ($270 off), respectively, on most major retailer sites like Amazon and Best Buy, as well as oneplus.com.
We don't expect prices to drop below these points and, since they've already dropped to those points, there's no reason to wait for a better deal.
OnePlus 9
$599 at Amazon $599 at Best Buy
Save $130 on one of OnePlus's best phones ever made, including a phenomenal Hasselblad camera system and stunning display, all in this beautiful Winter Mist colorway.
OnePlus 9 Pro
$799 at Amazon $799 at Best Buy
One of the best Android phones hands-down, the OnePlus 9 Pro has a Snapdragon 888 chipset, 120Hz QHD display, superb cameras, and 65W Warp Charge.
In theory, you could wait for Black Friday itself for a surprise Lightning deal, but the sporadic deal prices we've seen are already excellent. We'd suggest grabbing one as soon as you spot it at those price points, or else choosing to wait until the OnePlus 10. Or, if you want to save a bit extra, we're also seeing $100 off the slightly older OnePlus 8T for Black Friday.
OnePlus 8T
$499 at Amazon $499 at Best Buy
With a 120Hz display, 65W charging, fast Snapdragon 865 chipset, striking design, and solid battery life, the OnePlus 8T is a solid near-flagship phone at a mid-range price.
As for OnePlus's cheaper Nord series, we've seen a solid carrier deal from Mint Mobile. Buy the Nord N200 or Nord N100, and you'll get a free 12 months of service from Mint Mobile. Alternatively, you can grab an unlocked unit from multiple retailers at a nice discount.
OnePlus Nord N200 / N100 (Mint Mobile)
$420 at Mint Mobile (N200) $360 at Mint Mobile (N100)
If you're looking for both a phone and a service plan, Mint Mobile is bundling both: buy a OnePlus Nord phone, and you get 12 months of service for free. Mint Mobile is one of our favorite cell phone plans for affordability, so you'll keep saving once your free year ends.
OnePlus Nord N200 5G (Unlocked)
$200 at Amazon $200 at Best Buy $200 at Walmart
The Nord N200 5G provides fantastic value with its careful selection of specs and top-notch build. Its ultra-affordable nature balanced perfectly with just the right features is the hallmark of a OnePlus phone. Grab this deal to score $40 off the usal price tag.
Black Friday Android phone deals: Motorola
Other manufacturers' deals are great but still target people with thicker wallets. Moto phones are much more affordable at full price, and Motorola is running a Black Friday sale for its most recent phones that makes them even easier on your budget.
These deals include $600 off the Moto Razr (2nd gen), $100 off the Motorola One 5G Ace and Motorola Edge (2021), $70 off the Moto G Stylus and Moto G Power, and $300 off the 2020 Motorola Edge.
Motorola Edge (2021) | $100 off
$600 at Amazon $600 at Best Buy
With 2-day battery life, a 6.8-inch 144Hz display, a solid Snapdragon 778G SoC, and clever Motorola software tools, this large, smooth-displayed phone is a solid mid-range option.
Motorola One 5G Ace | $100 off
For reliable performance thanks to its Snapdragon 750G and 5G support, the One 5G Ace is a solid option. Battery life is almost unending and its 6.7-inch display looks great.
Moto G Stylus (2021) | $70 off
$230 at Amazon $230 at Best Buy
Compared to the Power (2021), the Stylus version has more than its namesake for more traditional navigation. It also has better FHD resolution, a faster Snapdragon 678 SoC, more RAM by default, and more storage. It's the better purchase if you don't mind the extra cost.
Moto G Power (2021) | $70 off
$180 at Amazon $180 at Best Buy
If you mostly care about a massive battery in your phone, the Moto G Power (2021) will fit the bill. It has Motorola's trademark stock software up to Android 11, a headphone jack, expandable storage, and a nice design. And it's at a very low price for Black Friday.
Moto G Power (2020) | $30 off
It's telling that the 2020 model is more expensive than the 2021 model. It's still one of our favorite budget phones whenever it's available, with its insanely good battery life and respectable performance for this price point. This discount isn't as high, but you may prefer the older model with its faster speeds and FHD display.
Moto Razr 5G | $600 off
$700 at Amazon $700 at Best Buy
Moto's foldable is for people who want a traditional foldable form factor with current spec power to back it up. It has both a cover and foldable inner display, Motorola's trademark long-lasting battery life, and a 48MP camera sensor.
Where to find the best Black Friday Android phone deals
For the best discounts without any strings attached, keep a close eye on Amazon and Best Buy. Amazon usually gets the best phone deals, while Best Buy has early deals with Black Friday price guarantees running all throughout November.
Manufacturers are also pushing early deals on their own websites, so frequently check your favorite brand's site for deals. Many of the best deals depend on having a phone to trade in, however. Carriers are also offering phones at significant discounts or even for free, but usually in exchange for signing up for a subscription or switching providers.
- Amazon: Features most major phone brand sales, with Lightning Deals to come and random discounts on older phones
- Best Buy: Easy to spot sales on smartphones and cases
- Walmart: Will have unique early Black Friday deals during all of November
- B&H Photo: Some phone deals, more likely to see older phones and accessories (watches, headphones)
- Samsung.com: Will have constant trade-in deals for all its major phones and foldables; may have actual deal prices closer to Black Friday
- OnePlus.com: Official timeline shows exactly when its phones will be discounted and for how much
- Motorola.com: The spot right now for Moto phone deals
- Google: Pick up a Pixel 6 or Pixel 6 Pro direct
When do the Black Friday Android phone deals begin?
Depending on which brand you want, they've already begun now and will continue to extend all the way through Cyber Monday. Popular 2021 flagships are discounted on major retailers for hundreds of dollars. And some of the best budget Android phones, including several Moto-brand phones and the Galaxy A series, have also seen significant discounts.
Thanks to recent supply chain issues, some popular phones like the Galaxy S21 have been hard to find for months, especially if you want to buy it from a specific carrier. And the newly-released Pixel 6 series may only get a small deal if it gets one at all. If you do spot a deal on a Samsung or Google phone, best not to wait for something better because it may not come at all.
Source: androidcentral