Best EOFY 2023 phone deals and sales in Australia

The iPhone 14, Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra, Google Pixel 7a and iPhone SE are arranged together, beside text that reads 'EOFY 2023'
(Image credit: Future)

End of financial year (EOFY) sales have kicked off and, all through June, there'll be savings aplenty on some big ticket tech... including smartphones. While you likely won't see too many of the latest flagships getting big discounts during this year's EOFY sales, older models will as retailers try to do away with old stock. And if you're using your new phone for work purposes, its usage becomes tax deductible. That, in fact, increases your savings, although you will have to wait to see it get back into your bank account.

If you've been battling on with a cracked screen on your phone, or are keen on checking out new camera capabilities on handsets like the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra, then the EOFY sales are the perfect chance for Australians to upgrade their handset to one of the best phones available, without the painful price tag.

It's no secret that the yearly cycle of smartphone upgrades is an expensive one for the consumer, costing in the AU$1,500 ballpark for most flagship handsets, and even cracking well into the AU$2,000s for some more premium units, so it's important to have a good think (and read) about what you really need, and also to save a good chunk of change when making the investment.

This is where we come in. We'll be keeping well and truly on top of all the tech EOFY sales in Australia for 2023, and whether its mid-range handsets, cutting edge top-tier beasts or anything in between, we're tracking down the best deals in the country ahead of that June 30 end date.

Best EOFY phone deals

Under AU$500

Motorola Edge 30 Neo (128GB)

Motorola Edge 30 Neo (128GB) | AU$599 AU$388 on Amazon (save AU$211)

This isn't a phone we would recommend for video streaming on the go, but if you're after a cheap phone for basic needs, this one's screen has excellent brightness for outdoor viewing. As you'll see in our Motorola Edge 30 Neo review, it's also got a weaker processor, so it really is for calls and texts for the most part. At this price, you really can't complain.

More discounts: The Good Guys: AU$388 | JB Hi-Fi: AU$398 | Lenovo: AU$399 | Mobileciti: AU$395

Samsung Galaxy S21 FE (128GB)

Samsung Galaxy S21 FE (128GB) | AU$949 AU$474.50 at Optus when you stay connected to a plan over 24 months (save AU$474.50)

Amazon’s offering this phone for AU$566 outright, but if you’re willing to pair the device with a plan, you can snag it from Optus for AU$474.50. Just note, you’ll need to stay connected to an Optus mobile plan for 24 months. The cheapest plan from Optus is the AU$49 Small plan, which comes with 30GB of data. Pair that with phone repayments, and you’re looking at AU$68.77 a month over 24 months.

Total cost over 24 months is AU$1,650.48

Motorola Edge 30 Fusion (128GB)

Motorola Edge 30 Fusion (128GB) | AU$899 AU$488 at The Good Guys (save AU$411)

A budget phone means some compromises have been made, but Motorola has done it the smart way – you get flagship looks on a phone that cuts little corners on the camera and water resistance. Still, it's a good phone, considering we gave it 4 stars in our Motorola Edge 30 Fusion review. And it's pretty close to half price right now.

More discounts: Lenovo: AU$489 | JB Hi-Fi: AU$498 (grey) | JB Hi-Fi: AU$498 (gold)

Under AU$1,000

Google Pixel 7 (128GB) |

Google Pixel 7 (128GB) | AU$999 AU$749 at The Google Store (save AU$250)

Camera smarts isn't the only thing that's amazing about the Pixel 7. A better screen the Pixel 6, IP68 water resistance, a recycled body and the power of the Tensor G2 chipset. Decent battery life is a win too. And it's now a more affordable flagship with AU$250 off directly from the maker.

More discounts: JB Hi-Fi: AU$749 

Samsung Galaxy A54 (128GB) |

Samsung Galaxy A54 (128GB) | AU$699 AU$597 at The Good Guys (save AU$103)

It's the latest in Samsung's affordable line of handsets, offering decent value for money even at full price. A AU$103 discount just sweetens the bargain on a phone that's 5G-ready, comes with a better camera system than before and gets better security support than the older budget A-series phones.

More discounts: JB Hi-Fi: AU$599 | Samsung: AU$599

Oppo Find X5 Pro (256GB)

Oppo Find X5 Pro (256GB) | AU$1,399 AU$899 at JB Hi-Fi (save AU$500)

We called this a "camera powerhouse" in our Oppo Find X5 Pro review, albeit a phone with a slightly buggy software. We'd have found it hard to recommend it at full price, but with a massive discount of AU$500, it's worth considering if you don't want a handset from one of the big brands. Available in black.

Under AU$1,500

Google Pixel 7 Pro (128GB)

Google Pixel 7 Pro (128GB) | AU$1,299, AU$1,049 at The Google Store (save AU$250)

Google’s latest flagship is a superbly confident jack of all trades – and you can save AU$250 by shopping directly from the Google Store. Offering a large, high-resolution 6.7-inch display with always-on tech, 12GB of RAM and Google’s own Tensor G2 chip, it’s a powerhouse. And, since it’s a Pixel, it also offers an excellent camera with features like Magic Eraser, Photo Unblur, and more – with a 50MP main snapper, a 12MP ultra-wide, and a 48MP telephoto option.

Samsung Galaxy S23 (128GB, black)

Samsung Galaxy S23 (128GB, black) | AU$1,349 AU$1,120 on Amazon (save AU$229)

This handset was AU$299 off just days before, but if you're happy with just 17% off, then it's made available via a third-party reseller. Note that the Black model is the one with the biggest discount, but the other four colours are also discounted by varying degrees. If 128GB is sufficient storage for you and you're comfortable shopping from a third party, this is a decent offer for a current flagship.

Buy any Samsung Galaxy S23 and get bonus Galaxy Watch 5

Buy any Samsung Galaxy S23 and get bonus Galaxy Watch 5 | from AU$1,349 (bonus Watch 5 valued at AU$649)

The S23 isn’t discounted in this deal, but Samsung will give you a bonus Galaxy Watch 5 when you make your purchase (valued at AU$649, automatically added at checkout). The free smartwatch is included whether you buy deal the standard S23, the S23 Plus or the S23 Ultra. To make it even sweeter, Samsung is also including an additional AU$200 credit if you trade-in an eligible phone, on top of credit you’ll receive for the trade-in. Samsung’s website has the full terms and conditions.

Other participating retailers include: JB Hi-Fi, The Good Guys, Optus

Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra (256GB; Black)

Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra (256GB; Black) | AU$1,999 from AU$1,448 on Amazon (save AU$551)

It might be the previous generation S Pen-toting handset but it's still pretty darn powerful. And for 28% off, you can have the black option and save over AU$550 off the list price of the 256GB model. This price is only for the Black mode, but the other three colours are also discounted, albeit to different amounts.

Under AU$2,000

Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra (256GB)

Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra (256GB) | AU$1,949 from AU$1,699 on Amazon (save AU$250)

We're not expecting to see huge discounts on the latest flagships, so a 13% price drop via a third-party reseller on Amazon for the black model might be something to consider. It does ship from Amazon, so you're still covered by the platform's returns policy if you're not comfortable buying from a third party.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 (512GB; Black)

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 (512GB; Black) | AU$2,699 AU$1,888 on Amazon (save AU$811)

This is an incredible deal on Samsung’s foldable phone, the Z Fold 4, with Amazon shaving AU$811 off the RRP for all shoppers (down to AU$1,888). Currently only the Black colour option is available at this price in the 512GB version of the multi-tasking device. The Fold 4 was previously down to AU$1,649, but it’s since increased to  AU$1,888.


Features to look for when buying a smartphone

1. Operating system (OS)

The first big thing you'll need to decide is whether you're after an Android handset, or would prefer to hitch your wagon to Apple's iOS ecosystem. 

There are a huge number of Android handsets on offer from several major manufacturers, which all generally have their own strengths (and occasional weaknesses). That means there's a lot more choice for those who want to embrace the customisation and freedom that Google's mobile OS is known for.

On the other hand, Apple's iPhones, while more closed-off in nature, are excellent options for those who prioritise predictability and want to ensure they get the latest OS updates as as soon as they're available. They're also ideal for those who already own Mac computers and subscribe to Apple's various services.

3. Technical specifications

Depending on how much you're willing to spend, Android phones offer varying degrees of performance, with top handsets like Samsung's Galaxy S23 and Apple's iPhone 14 offering plenty of grunt under the hood thanks to their top-of-the-line specs.

When purchasing a new handset, it's important to find out if its chipset is powerful enough to handle your daily tasks. At present, the latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset is what you'll find in most top-of-the-line Android models, even in this year's Samsung models. You’ll find that, among the Snapdragon and Exynos chip families, the more powerful the processor, the higher the model number.

Apple's iPhones, on the other hand, often pack a similar amount of horsepower depending on which generation of device they belong to. Apple's own A16 Bionic chip powers its more high-end iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max models, with last year's A15 silicon still being used in the lower-end iPhone 14 handsets. Both guarantee terrific performance and will continue to do so for a couple more years yet. After that, you may start to notice some slowdown, depending on how much power-hungry Apple makes its next iOS iterations.

4. Storage

Most manufactures will offer their handsets with various amounts of onboard storage. Depending on what you want to do with your phone, you'll want to settle on a storage size that's right for you. Smartphone storage can range anywhere from 16GB to 1TB (realistically you'll be seeing between 64GB and 512GB in most cases), though you can expect the price to rise significantly as that number gets larger. Some Android phones will offer expandable storage via microSD card slot, meaning you can add more capacity should you ever need it.

5. Display

Without question, the best kind of display you can get is an OLED, as it offers deep blacks and individually-lit pixels, allowing for always-on-displays that consume very little battery due the majority of the screen being off. They're also incredibly vibrant, with vivid, organic colours that really bring videos and games to life.

Various types of OLED displays are featured in most top models, including the Samsung Galaxy S22/S23, iPhone 13/14, Google Pixel 6/7 and more. Some of the more affordable options, however, still opt for LCD displays, and while they aren't quite as impressive when it comes to vibrancy and contrast, they do tend to offer excellent brightness.

What to expect for EOFY 2023

As we've discussed, there are plenty of savings to be had in the final month before the Australian financial year comes to a close, and that makes it a great time to save a packet on the latest phones.

As is always the case, more recent models like those from Apple's iPhone 14 range and the Samsung Galaxy S23 lineup won't be seeing the biggest discounts (although we suspect something in the 10-20% range may arrive), but models from the previous generation or more mid-range handsets are quite likely to get hefty savings applied to them.

This means that we might see savings on the more affordable iPhone SE (2022), although it is rather fresh on the market, and previous models like the iPhone 13 and Samsung Galaxy S22 will be had for a bargain as retailers want to clear their stock.

Since launch, we've seen the Google Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro both receive the occasional AU$100-200 discount, and now that the more affordable Pixel 7a has been revealed, we'll likely catch a bargain or two on the Google flagships as well.

You don't necessarily need to buy the phone of your choice outright either — telcos have begun to offer some discounts on specific models purchased on a plan. For example, Vodafone discounted some iPhone models during EOFY 2022 as long you got them on a 24-month plan. You can expect more of these this year, although the better discounts and bigger variety of handsets will likely be on outright purchases.

Sharmishta Sarkar
Managing Editor (APAC)

Sharmishta is TechRadar's APAC Managing Editor and loves all things photography, something she discovered while chasing monkeys in the wilds of India (she studied to be a primatologist but has since left monkey business behind). While she's happiest with a camera in her hand, she's also an avid reader and has become a passionate proponent of ereaders, having appeared on Singaporean radio to talk about the convenience of these underrated devices. When she's not testing camera kits or the latest in e-paper tablets, she's discovering the joys and foibles of smart home gizmos. She's also the Australian Managing Editor of Digital Camera World and, if that wasn't enough, she contributes to T3 and Tom's Guide, while also working on two of Future's photography print magazines Down Under.