15 Early Black Friday Deals That’ll Get You an iPhone, Google Pixel or Samsung Smartphone for Hundreds Off - CNET

Apple, Samsung, Google and other brands have released a constellation of smartphones that give everyone a reason to consider an upgrade. Just about every tech company has improved specs, cameras, battery life and other features across the board. However, high quality means higher prices. Brands such as Apple have announced formal price hikes, and no brand is safe from increases.

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However, Black Friday is coming up soon. We’ve already found multiple deals from retailers and carriers that can save you hundreds of dollars. If you play your cards right or have an eligible device to trade in, you might even be able to nab a brand-new upgrade for free. We’ve listed every early Black Friday deal worth considering.

We expect more price cuts to come soon, so check back often.

Early Black Friday iPhone deals

T-Mobile is leading the pack with a deal that gets you a free iPhone 18 Pro when you trade in an eligible device and sign up for an Experience plan. Other plans save you up to $1,000. T-Mobile charges a $35 connection charge.

Best Buy is currently offering the unlocked iPhone Air for $100 off. You can save an extra $100 if you let Best Buy connect your phone to a carrier and further cut costs if you have a device to trade in.

AT&T will give you a discount of up to $1,200 when you trade in a device worth at least $230. You’ll need to sign up for an AT&T Unlimited 2.0 plan or upgrade to one if you’re an existing customer.

More early Black Friday iPhone deals

- iPhone 16E (unlocked): $540 (save $60). If you need an unlocked iPhone, this deal from Best Buy offers a direct discount. You can save extra with a trade-in deal, and you’ll get extra freebies.

- iPhone 17E: from $0 per month. T-Mobile is offering a free iPhone 17E if you trade in and sign up for an Experience More or Experience Beyond plan.

Early Black Friday Samsung phone deals

Right now, you save $150 on a Samsung Galaxy S26 if you buy directly from Samsung. You can also save up to an extra $340 with an instant trade-in credit and save 10% on a Galaxy Watch9, Galaxy Watch Ultra2 or Galaxy Buds4 Pro if you choose to bundle any of these with your purchase.

More early Black Friday Samsung phone deals

- Samsung Galaxy S26 Plus: $1,000 (save $200). Best Buy is offering a direct discount of $200 on an unlocked Samsung Galaxy S26 Plus. Connecting to AT&T or Verizon can net you up to an extra $1,200 off with trade-in.

- Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra: from $25 per month. T-Mobile is offering the 256GB Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra for up to $1,200 off with an eligible trade-in if you sign up for an Experience More or Experience Beyond plan.

- Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge: $700 (save $400). With the S26 dominating the market, you save a bit more by considering an S25 series smartphone like this 256GB powerhouse.

Early Black Friday Google phone deals

The Google Pixel 11 is currently $300 off at Google, bringing it down to $799 for an unlocked smartphone. However, those who join Google Fi can get an extra $799 back, which nets you the phone for free. Google is also throwing in a free six-month trial subscription for Google AI Pro, worth $120.

The Google Pixel 11 Pro Fold is currently $300 off at Google. If you switch to Fi, you’ll get an extra $800 off for a limited time. This brings the phone down to $799. You’ll also get Google AI Pro for free for six months, which unlocks Gemini and gets you an extra 5TB of storage.

More early Black Friday Google Pixel deals

- Google Pixel 10A (128GB): $549 (save $50). This previously released Pixel smartphone isn’t to be underestimated, and you can save even more with a trade-in thanks to Best Buy’s generous program.

- Google Pixel 10 (128GB): $599 (save $200). Save even more on an unlocked Pixel smartphone by choosing the Pixel 11’s excellent predecessor.

Should I shop phone deals now or wait for Black Friday?

If you can score a carrier deal that gets you a free smartphone, then shopping now might be best. That’s because Black Friday and Cyber Week are likely to ensure that retailers and carriers are getting more web and in-person foot traffic. Popular smartphones might be in short supply.

Which retailers are offering the best Black Friday phone deals?

Amazon and Best Buy are the go-to places if you want to score unlocked phones at a discount with all manner of discounts from Samsung, Google, Motorola and more. For iPhones, or if you just prefer a pay-monthly option, carriers like T-Mobile and Verizon are your best bet, with discounts reaching as much as $1,200 on some handsets with attached plans.

Should I shop carrier deals or buy an unlocked phone this Black Friday?

Buying on a carrier plan versus unlocked will depend on your circumstances. It’s usually cheaper overall to buy the phone unlocked, especially if you can get a discount on the hardware, and then pay your carrier of choice just for your phone plan. That said, it does require putting several hundred dollars (or more) down right away to get the phone in your hands. If you’d prefer to spread that cost, even if it ends up costing a bit more in the end, then a carrier deal is best for you.

To maximize savings on unlocked smartphones, make sure you look through retailer trade-in programs, direct discounts and other freebies.

Which phone brands should I shop on Black Friday?

Apple, Google and Samsung are probably your best bet. They aren’t cheap, and Black Friday deals are certain to help you score one of these smartphones for less. This is especially the case if you choose a previously released version of these smartphones. That being said, if you’re an Android user, OnePlus and Nothing phones are also excellent alternatives with rave reviews and even lower prices than their mainstream competition.

Samsung is likely to offer some of its best prices of the year during Black Friday season. Google is also running early Black Friday deals right now that are enhanced if you switch to Fi. If you want to save on an iPhone, you’ll have to pay close attention to other retailers and carriers, as Apple doesn’t offer direct discounts.

Will I find good iPhone deals during Black Friday?

Yes, you can find solid Black Friday iPhone deals, though not directly at Apple. There’s a chance third-party retailers like Best Buy will discount the unlocked handsets, though the biggest discounts will be found via carriers like T-Mobile, which are offering the latest models with as much as $1,200 off, effectively making the phone free via bill credits.

A reminder that many smartphones have seen an uptick in price. This is the case regardless of which brand you want to buy, so Black Friday offers an excellent opportunity to grab some of the lowest prices of the year.