Additionally, the phones are being released earlier this year than the S20 devices were in 2020, so there's a slight possibility we could see discounts appear a month earlier, in April or June. However, November will still likely be a strong time for deals.
But when is the best time to buy a cell phone from Samsung's latest Galaxy Note lineup? If you're hoping for an excellent deal on the yet-to-be-released Galaxy Note21 or Galaxy Note21 Ultra, we still encourage you to check for deals around Black Friday. If you don't see any great offers then, know that we should see more notable discounts in December.
The Google Pixel 4a was released on August 20, 2020, and had a starting price of $349. Despite the already-affordable price, we still saw modest discounts on unlocked models. For instance, in December it dropped to $319, but you could save more over time by opting for a carrier-locked version. Verizon offered the phone for $5 per month for 24 months, which equates to $120.
The huge number of choices from a variety of phone manufacturers should make shopping simple, but sometimes this makes it more confusing, whether you're looking for the highest-quality, elite phone or a more affordable phone, like the Google Pixel 6A. The best devices on the market not only have different prices, they also have different camera specs, screen sizes and storage capacities.
In general, performance lines up with cost. The very latest, greatest technology usually comes at a premium. Flagship phones pack the best cameras, the most powerful processors and may even sport cutting-edge tech like flexible displays. The high prices mean that these phones are only worth considering for those who want the absolute latest tech in their pockets.
Not everyone needs such top tech however, or may simply be unwilling to spend the $1,000 or more typically required to get it. Luckily, the midrange sector of the phone world has been one of the fiercest battlegrounds for companies to compete in, resulting in some amazing phones that won't break the bank. Features like wireless charging and cameras with multiple lenses that were once the domain of flagships are now commonplace on midrange phones.
5G is the latest standard that promises lightning-fast mobile data speeds when you're out and about. Like any new technology, it's commonplace to see it on higher-end devices but it's also increasingly common to find on much more affordable phones too.
Coverage for 5G isn't everywhere yet, so it's important to ask yourself whether you need 5G speeds at all and crucially, whether they're available where you live. If you're planning on keeping your phone for at least a couple of years, you can safely expect 5G to become more of the norm in that time. If you're on the fence about it now, it may be that in nine months you'll feel differently and might regret not taking the plunge sooner.
All phones have gotten steadily bigger over the last few years, with the iPhone 14 Pro Max measuring a whopping 6.68 inches and the Galaxy S23 Ultra coming in at 6.8 inches. Small phones aren't that common anymore but there are a few options to consider if you don't want a massive screen stretching out your pockets.
Apple opted not to update the iPhone 13 Mini this year, but it is still officially on sale through the Apple Store and at 5.4-inches it's quite a lot smaller than the 6.1-inch iPhone 14. On the Android side, the Google Pixel 6A's 6.1-inch display makes it one of the better smaller phones, but even then it's hardly what you'd call tiny.
Camera features have been a major point for bragging rights in recent phones, with manufacturers always wanting a bigger, more exciting number, be it the number of megapixels or quantity of actual camera lenses. Three rear cameras are now common -- a regular lens, an ultrawide lens and a telephoto lens -- with even budget-focused phones packing multiple cameras.
This is great, as more lenses mean more shooting options when you're out and about. But that doesn't mean that any multilens camera is as good as another. As with processor performance, the more you spend, the better the results you'll typically get, with the absolute best cameras around usually being found on the most expensive flagships.
Look out for features like optical (rather than digital) zooms, night mode for better low-light images, and optical image stabilization. Sometimes these features might not be clear, and it's not possible to judge a camera's performance just by looking at the specs. If you really care about your phone's photography skills, then take some time to look at the reviews and see how its camera performs before you spend your money.
Most phones, from the budget end through to elite flagships, can last most of a day on a single charge. Bigger phones might have bigger batteries, but they also have bigger screens and often more powerful processors, so they suck that extra juice down quickly. Few phones will give you more than a day of use. Here are some things to keep in mind:
Top-end phones pack powerful processors along with 12GB of RAM or even more. It's enough to make these phones run any task without breaking a sweat, but you don't need to spend flagship level money to get great performance.
Most decent midrange phones offer enough power to handle all of your everyday needs. You'll still be able to play almost any game from the Google Play store and edit your high-resolution photos in apps such as Snapseed. There's little you could throw at most midrange phones that they wouldn't be able to handle.
Most phones, even the budget ones, come with at least 32GB of storage, of which 10 may be taken up by preinstalled apps and the phone's operating system. If you don't ever plan on recording any video and gaming isn't your thing, 32GB might be enough, but otherwise you should consider 64GB or even 128GB to be a minimum.
Higher-end phones -- particularly those that can record high quality 4K video -- offer capacities of 256GB or more. With that much space, you'll barely need to think twice about having to clear out old files.
If the phone supports microSD cards then it's a different matter, as you can pick up 32GB microSD cards (or bigger) for very little money these days and popping one into your phone will dramatically increase the amount of storage you'll have access to. Unfortunately expandable storage is a very rare feature on phones these days.
We've collected all of this week's best cell phone deals into one handy page right here, including all the latest devices from Apple, Samsung, Google, and many other leading brands. Regardless of whether you prefer an iPhone or an Android device, you'll be able to find excellent cell phone deals here that can save you tons of cash. We've also made sure to include options for carrier devices, unlocked devices, and even a few decent prepaid choices too, just to cater for all types of phone users.
Note, all of the devices featured on our list have been personally reviewed by the staff here at TechRadar. They're all fantastic picks in their own right and you won't find any sub-par choices included. If you'd like to find out which is best for you we'd recommend checking our updated guide to the best phones for 2023.
iPhone 14 Series: up to $1,000 off with trade, plus free iPad and Apple Watch at Verizon (opens in new tab)
One of the best cell phone deals we've ever seen is back again this week at Verizon, with the chance to bundle in a free Apple Watch SE and 9th gen iPad with most iPhones. This stacks on top of the usual trade-in rebates of up to $1,000 that you'll find on the latest iPhone 14 series for some exceptional value. While you'll still need a pricey unlimited data plan here to be eligible for this promotion, the freebies alone are worth over $500 so it's well worth considering this one. See this same deal on the iPhone 14 Pro (opens in new tab) and iPhone 14 Pro Max (opens in new tab).
Apple iPhone 14 Pro & 14 Pro Max: up to $800 off w/ trade-in and unlimited plan at AT&T (opens in new tab)
AT&T's cell phone deals on the iPhone 14 Pro and 14 Pro Max have been paired down slightly this week to feature a trade-in rebate of up to $800 - down from the record of $1,000 off. Even though this isn't the best deal we've ever seen from this carrier this promotion is still worth considering if you're interested since it'll take a significant chunk off the overall cost. See this same deal on the iPhone 14 Pro Max (opens in new tab).
Google Pixel 7: $5/mo with unlimited plan, plus $400 off smartwatch at Verizon (opens in new tab)
This particular promotion on the Google Pixel 7 could be in contention for the best deal at the carrier this week. Not only is this brand-new Android flagship available for just $5 per month with a new unlimited plan (no trade-in needed), but the carrier is also offering the chance to get $400 off a smartwatch in addition. This is another very strong freebie this week at Verizon and it's also up for grabs on the more premium Google Pixel 7 Pro (opens in new tab).
Google Pixel 6a: free with unlimited data plan, plus $400 off smartwatch at Verizon (opens in new tab)
This is quite possibly the best Verizon deal this week for Android fans on a budget. Not only can you get the excellent Google Pixel 6A for free right now on an unlimited data plan, but the carrier is also offering that $400 saving on a smartwatch in addition. The promotion here is essentially the same as those on the Pixel 7 above, but this is definitely a strong option if you want to cut out those pesky device payments.
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