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
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
Apple devices
Android deals
