Black Friday phone deals 2023: when they start and what to expect

iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Pro, Galaxy S23 Ultra on blue background with Black Friday text overlay
(Image credit: Future)

We're quickly approaching that time of the year again - the one where we'll be inundated with plenty of Black Friday phone deals tempting us to upgrade. If you're already casting ahead to the big sale - welcome, this is the page we'll be using to round up the best Black Friday phone deals once the time comes.

We're still a month or so away from Black Friday 2023 but we've already started our preparations here at TechRadar. Subsequently, you'll find this page chock-full of everything you need to know about bagging a bargain on a device this November. 

As an overview, Black Friday phone deals tend to be the best time outside of the initial preorders phase of a device to upgrade. There's precedent for some of best smartphones and best cheap phones receiving excellent deals in November, so it's well worth getting prepped ahead of time if you're looking for a new device.

Today's best phone deals ahead of Black Friday

Black Friday phone deals: key information

Apple iPhone 15 Plus

Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max full home screen (Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)

When will Black Friday phone deals start?

Black Friday 2023 falls on November 24 but we expect plenty of phone deals to drop ahead of that specific date. Generally speaking, most of the big tech retailers tend to ramp up their sales from the end of October onwards, although we've seen deals as early as mid-October in recent years.

This year, that's likely to be the case again since Amazon has already announced that a second Amazon Prime Day will be taking place over October 11th and 12th. This sale, dubbed " Prime Big Deal Days", isn't strictly a Black Friday sale but it could have Black Friday-level deals potentially. If you're on the hunt for a new phone over this period, we'd recommend visiting TechRadar regularly as we'll be covering it thoroughly.

Where will the best Black Friday phone deals be?

We'll be rounding up all the best Black Friday phone deals right here on this page, so don't hesitate to bookmark and check in regularly for recommendations. As a quick overview, however, here are the retailers that we're expecting to feature the best phone deals over the Black Friday period.

Amazon: frequent deals on unlocked Android devices
Apple: usually offers gift cards and trade-in rebates
AT&T: trade-in rebates and discounts with unlimited plans
Best Buy: a large selection of products and big reductions during sales
Walmart: offering competitive trade-in deals and other discounts
Verizon: trade-in deals, free devices, and plan tie-ins

3 pro tips for buying a phone on Black Friday

1. Research devices

Firstly, do a little bit of research and narrow down your choices - our best phone 2023 buyer's guide is a great place to start. You don't have to know exactly which device you want to go for, but having an idea of what options are out there and your budget is going to save you precious time over Black Friday. We'd also recommend our large number of excellent phone reviews on this site for more detailed breakdowns on each device.

2. Be prepared to switch

The biggest and baddest Black Friday phone deals will nearly always be from the carriers themselves - companies that love to offer free devices with their unlimited data plans. The catch here is these deals are often only available to new customers and/or via an eligible trade-in. If you are prepared to switch and pay for a pricey unlimited plan, however, then the rewards are often significant. 

3. Price comparison

This is a great tip for unlocked Black Friday phone deals in particular. It's worth noting that there are usually several retailers who stock devices (iPhones at Apple being the exception), so it's worth casting your net out and checking all your options before you commit. We'll be price checking thoroughly on this page so you don't have to but it's always worth considering if you're planning on flying solo on Black Friday.

Note, this also applies to a lesser extent to carrier devices. While carriers generally offer the same kind of trade-in rebates with their Black Friday phone deals, you can sometimes find bonus freebies like iPads and Apple Watches being offered. Trade-in criteria can differ greatly between carrier too, so it's worth seeing how much your old device will fetch at several different sites.

Last year's best Black Friday phone deals

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Mint Mobile exclusive Black Friday deal: get three months for free
Mint Mobile's wishing everyone a very happy Black Friday with one of its best promotions all year. Right now new customers can score a whole three months of service for free when they sign up to any three-month plan. That includes everything from the humble 4GB monthly plan to the unlimited plan - all are eligible with three months of free service here.

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Verizon Black Friday special: get a free smartwatch, pair of earbuds, and tablet
Verizon's current Black Friday promotion chucks in a whole bunch of free stuff with select Android smartphones - specifically the Galaxy S22 series, Google Pixel 6, and Google Pixel 6a. There's a selection of freebies including the Galaxy Watch 4, Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 Lite, and Pixel Buds Pro, among other things. Plus, in the case of the Pixels, this deal stacks on top of the savings you can get with an unlimited data plan - so you'll get both a discounted device and free accessories.

Apple devices

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Apple iPhone 14 Pro & 14 Pro Max: BOGO, up to $1,000 off w/ trade-in and unlimited plan at Verizon
Grab an iPhone 14 Pro or Pro Max from Verizon and you can get up to $1,000 off with a trade in. Or you can take advantage of a buy-one get-$800-off promotion if you're after multiple phones, and you can get a $200 gift card if you're a new customer. See this same deal on the iPhone 14 Pro Max.

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iPhone 14 Pro: up to $650 credit with trade-in at Apple
Pick up an iPhone from Apple direct and you can nab up to $650 in credit if you trade in another device at the same time. That particular deal is only for if you buy the phone on Sprint, but there are similar offers with AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile, they just don't offer quite as much credit. The same offers are available with the standard iPhone 14.
iPhone 14: up to $650 credit with a trade-in

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Apple iPhone 14 series: up to $800 off with trade-in and unlimited plan at AT&T
If you're happy to be on AT&T then you can currently get a big saving on an iPhone 14 or one of its siblings, with discounts of up to $800 when you trade in another device. That's with an unlimited data plan, so you'll be able to use your new phone without limits too. See this same deal on the iPhone 14 Plus, iPhone 14 Pro, or iPhone 14 Pro Max.

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Apple iPhone 14: BOGO, or up to $500 off with a trade-in and unlimited plan at Verizon
Verizon is offering a competitively good trade-in deal with iPhone 14 purchases at the moment, netting you up to $800 off the phone. Alternatively, if you need multiple phones the carrier is running a buy-one-get-one-free promotion, and if you're switching from another carrier you can net a $200 gift card on top of the above offers.

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Apple iPhone 14 Pro & 14 Pro Max: BOGO, up to $500 off w/ trade-in and unlimited plan at Verizon
Verizon's biggest savings are reserved for the most expensive iPhones - namely the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max. Grab either of these and if you trade in at the same time you can secure up to $500 off. See this same deal on the iPhone 14 Pro Max.

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Apple iPhone 14 Plus: $10/mo with new unlimited line at Verizon
If you don't have anything to trade in then this could be the iPhone 14 Plus plan for you, as you can get the phone for just $10 per month in this post Black Friday sale, with no trade-ins required. Over the course of a 36-month plan that will save you $540, and on top of that there's an extra $200 for you if you're switching from another carrier.

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Verizon prepaid: $300 off select iPhones
Verizon's deals include a massive $300 discount available across a variety of the latest iPhones, including the iPhone 14, 14 Pro, 14 Pro Max, and the iPhone 13. It's rare to see Verizon offer deals like this that aren't attached to an unlimited data plan, so these are worth snapping up.

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Apple iPhone SE 2022: $300 gift card with switch at Visible Wireless
Most carriers require you to trade in an old phone to get a big saving off a new one, but Visible Wireless is an exception here, as if you grab one of its already affordable prepaid plans with an iPhone SE (2022), the company will throw in a free $300 gift card. Not bad for a phone that's already Apple's cheapest.

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Apple iPhone 13 Pro: $0/mo with unlimited plan at Verizon
If you don't need the very latest iPhone then you could secure a great deal with this iPhone 13 Pro offering on Verizon. Right now you can get it for just $0 per month on an unlimited plan, with no trade-in needed. You can also get a $200 gift card if you're a new customer.

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Apple iPhone 13 mini: free with a new unlimited data plan at Verizon
The iPhone 13 mini is available completely free with a new unlimited data line on Verizon, which makes for a great deal if you don't have an old handset to trade in. This isn't Apple's latest phone, but it is one of the company's smallest, so it's ideal for fans of compact devices.

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Apple iPhone 12: free with a new unlimited data plan at Verizon
The iPhone 12 might not be the latest model, but it's still a fantastic phone, and right now you can get it for free with an unlimited data plan at Verizon. Most other iPhone deals require trade-ins or buying multiple handsets, so this keeps things relatively simple.

Android deals

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Samsung Galaxy S22: BOGO, or get it free with a trade-in at Verizon
This Verizon deal is similar to one you'll find for iPhones, but this time it's for a Galaxy S22. You can get it free with a trade-in or buy-one-get-one-$800-off if you need two phones. You can also get a $200 gift card if you're a new customer. This deal is also available on the Galaxy S22 Plus, and Galaxy S22 Ultra, where there's up to $1000 off with a trade-in.

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Samsung Galaxy S22 series: instant rebate, plus up to $600 off with trade-in at Samsung
If you have a device to trade in then it's worth heading to Samsung direct to pick of a Galaxy S22, because the company will offer you up to $400 off that phone or up to $500 off the S22 Plus in return. Go for the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra and you can even get a $600 trade in discount. Plus, all three models also come with an instant rebate, knocking a bit extra off the price.
Galaxy S22: was $799.99 now $324.99
Galaxy S22 Plus: was $999.99 now $349.99
Galaxy S22 Ultra:
was $1,199.99 now $374.99

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Samsung Galaxy S22 Plus: $500 gift card with purchase at Walmart
Right now if you grab a Samsung Galaxy S22 Plus on Verizon through Walmart you can get a $500 gift card with it, which could be put to good use towards holiday gifts. The Samsung Galaxy S22 Plus is the middle child of the S22 line, offering a big screen and strong specs, without excess of the S22 Ultra.

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Samsung Galaxy Z 4 series: $350 off, plus up to $1,000 off with a trade-in at Samsung
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 is a tremendously expensive phone, but it doesn't have to be with this deal, which knocks up to $350 off the price - depending on how much storage you opt for. The bigger saving though comes if you trade an old phone in, as that can additionally save you up to $1000, making this foldable super-phone a lot more palatably priced. If you'd rather buy a Z Flip 4, then there are savings to be had there too, under similar terms.
Galaxy Z Flip 4: up to $600 off with a trade-in

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Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4: BOGO, or save up to $1,000 with a trade-in at Verizon
Verizon has two different offers available on the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4. You can either get a huge trade-in rebate of up to $1,000 off, or a buy-one get-$800-off-second multi-line saving. Plus, if you're a new customer you'll get an additional $200 gift card as a welcome bonus.

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Samsung Galaxy Z 3 series: was $1,799 now $1,199, plus up to $410 off with a trade-in at Samsung
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 isn't Samsung's latest foldable anymore but it's still a top phone, and it's slightly more affordable than the Z Fold 4. With this discount it becomes even more affordable, as Samsung will cut $600 off the price - or even more if you trade another phone in at the same time. If you'd rather get the more affordable Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 then there are savings to be had there too.
Galaxy Z Flip 3: was $899 now $725, plus up to $165 off with a trade

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Google Pixel 6a (128GB, Charcoal): was $449 now $299 at Best Buy
The Google Pixel 6a is Google's latest mid-range phone, but with this $150 discount from Best Buy it's available at a low-end price. That's for an unlocked 128GB version in Charcoal. If you're not sure whether this is the right phone for you, we're fans of its small size, clean software, and speedy fingerprint sensor, but less keen on its battery life and charging speed. Still, at this price those flaws are much more forgivable.

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Google Pixel 6 (unlocked): was $699 now $472.86 on Amazon
You can take 33% off the 256GB storage model of Google's still-excellent Pixel 6; with its superb AI-bolstered camera, strong performance and distinct design. There's also a 25% reduction on the 128GB model.

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Google Pixel 7 (128GB, Obsidian): was $599 now $499 at Best Buy
The Google Pixel 7 is the latest flagship phone from Google, and while it only came out recently you can already get it at a $100 discount in this Black Friday sale from Best Buy. That brings the base 128GB model down to just $499, but the same discount is available with more storage. In our review we praised the Pixel 7's cameras, so this is one for photography fans. But with the same chipset as the Pixel 7 Pro its performance won't let you down either.

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Google Pixel 7 Pro (128GB, Snow): was $899 now $749 at Best Buy
The Pixel 7 Pro is one of the best phones on the planet right now, and it's the very best Pixel. It also only launched recently, so any sort of reduction is notable - especially one as big as $150 off, as we're seeing here. That $749 price is for a 128GB model, but you'll find the same $150 saving on other variants too. The Pixel 7 Pro excels particularly when it comes to its cameras, its snappy interface, and its intuitive software. But this being a high-end phone it's good in most other areas too.

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Google Pixel 7 Series: save up to $500 with a trade-in at Verizon
If you trade in a phone at Verizon then right now you can get up to $500 off the purchase of a Google Pixel 7 or Pixel 7 Pro, which makes for a hefty discount off the company's latest flagship phones. You can also get big savings on buy-get-one, and there's a $200 gift card if you switch.

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Google Pixel 7: buy one get one $700 off with unlimited plan at Verizon
As well as trade-in rebates, Verizon is also running a buy-one-get-one scheme on the Pixel 7. With this you can knock up to $700 off the price of a second handset, and new customers will also get an additional $200 gift card on top of the BOGO saving. See this same deal - but knocking up to $800 off - on the Google Pixel 7 Pro.

Alex Whitelock
Deals Editor

Alex is deals editor at TechRadar. With over three years of experience on-site and eight years working in e-commerce, Alex has made it his personal mission to share all his favorite tips, bargains, and deals with our readers here at TechRadar. At work, he specializes in computing, phones, and covering huge sales events like Black Friday and Amazon Prime Day. Outside of work, you'll find him indulging his keen love of photography and PC gaming, or down at the local climbing gym hanging off boulders far too difficult for his abilities. His editorial bylines also include contributions to T3 and GamesRadar.

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