It's that time of year again. Black Friday is nearly upon us if you can believe it! Much like last year, many of the best deals will be available not only in person at retail stores but also online. It's never too early to start looking for bargains on the best Android phones, so here is a running list of Android phone deals that we've got our eye on leading up to the biggest shopping weekend of the year.
There are some pretty stellar Black Friday phone deals every year, though you have to know where to shop if you want to find the best offers. So whether you're hoping for the best Samsung deals, Google Pixel deals, some other Android phone, or even an iPhone (gasp!), this is truly the best time of the year to find one.
So far, Moto and OnePlus have begun their Black Friday phone deals early. The OnePlus 9 and 9 Pro will sell at some of their lowest prices of the year throughout November (if you know where to look). And you can save up to $600 off Motorola phones for its pre-Black Friday sale. And, of course, the carriers have some major discounts on new phones like the Google Pixel 6 Pro and Galaxy Z Flip 3 — albeit with some strings attached.
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. That includes everything from Best Buy Black Friday deals to Verizon Black Friday deals and more. If you're looking for more ways to save during this holiday season, make sure to check out our guide to Black Friday 2021.
Where to find the best Black Friday 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 only spot right now for Moto phone deals
When do the Black Friday 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.
Black Friday phone deals: Samsung
Samsung has yet to announce its Black Friday deals slate. But we've already spotted some small discounts on foldables and older Galaxy models, and we're certain that even better deals are on the way.
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. And you could save even more money if you had a recent phone to trade.
This year, we've spotted $75 off the S20 FE on Amazon, but it's mainly carriers with the best deals. AT&T is still giving the Z Flip 3 if you trade in a phone, and you can even get the S20 FE for free at Verizon with an unlimited plan.
As for the final event, we can expect Black Friday deals on the Galaxy S21, S21+, and S21 Ultra, as well as some older S20 and Note 20 models, based on past years. 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.
You can either wait for a good deal or (if you have a phone you're willing to trade) snag a trade-in deal from Samsung or a carrier now. Especially if you want to try out a Z foldable for the first time.
Black Friday phone deals: Google Pixel
When Black Friday 2020 rolled around, the recently released Pixel 5 got a $50 discount, costing even less with a trade-in. Meanwhile, the Pixel 4a 5G was free if you switched carriers or added a line. That could give us a ballpark figure for what to expect with the Pixel 6 and Pixel 5a — though the 5a is a unique case.
Thanks to low stock, the Google Store quickly ran out of the Pixel 6, and other retailers are also running low on the phone. It's possible they're hoarding stock in preparation for a Black Friday sale, but given how recently it shipped, you shouldn't expect a major discount — no more than $100 off the Pixel 6 Pro if we're lucky.
Right now, your best deal is from Visible. Switch your number to their service, and you'll get a $200 coupon and free Pixel Buds A-Series when you buy a Pixel 6.
As for the Pixel 5a, it's still exclusively for sale on the Google Store, so you only have one place to look for a deal! Last year, Google announced its Store deals just a few days before Black Friday, so we'll find out then if it'll get a few dollars signs shaved off. Given how handily the Pixel 6 beats the Pixel 5a, Google may sell it at a real discount to encourage better sales.
Black Friday 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.
Right now, the OnePlus 9 and OnePlus 9 Pro are $599 ($130 off) and $799 ($270 off), respectively, on major retailer sites like Amazon and Best Buy. Those deal prices should last through November 7, but OnePlus has told us this phone will go back on sale throughout November at the same price points.
Current or prospective T-Mobile customers can get a free OnePlus 9 with a new line or an upgrade to the Magenta Max Plan, or you can get $750 off the OnePlus Pro for the same deal.
In theory, you could wait for Black Friday itself for a surprise Lightning deal, but these prices are already excellent. We'd suggest grabbing one now, or else choosing to wait until the OnePlus 10.
As for OnePlus's cheaper Nord series, we haven't heard anything yet, but these could receive slight discounts in the upcoming weeks.
Black Friday 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 an early Black Friday sale now on its site for its most recent phones.
The "best" deal is $600 off the Moto Razr (2nd gen), but it'll still cost you a pretty penny. Some of the best deals percentage-wise include $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 is one of the best Android brands for affordable phones, and during Black Friday, they're even more affordable.
Source: androidcentral