Sure, you can spend a few hundred dollars on a brand-new midrange phone, but you also might be able to score one of last year's flagship models, which likely offers better specs and performance, for the same midrange price. When new phones are released, older models are usually discounted, and carriers frequently offer the same, or similar, promotions on these phones as they do on the new versions.
Look for guaranteed trade-in promotions from carriers or manufacturers and compare them with prices at Best Buy and Gazelle. Dedicated trade-in sites aren't quite as seamless as swapping your old phone out to the same store where you're picking up your new one, but they often pay more money. Just be sure to give an accurate assessment of the quality of your phone for the best estimate. Samsung, in particular, is good about accepting trade-ins, especially old iPhones and Pixels.
Even the most expensive phone is basically just a fancy brick if it doesn't have service. There are a lot of options out there beyond AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon, and they can save you a lot of money. Once you find the right phone, head over to our story on the best cheap phone plans to find the right cost-effective service for you.
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.
Generally speaking, you'll find cell phone deals coming in two forms - first as an outright sale on an unlocked device, and secondly as part of a carrier-plan tie-in. The latter can be a bit tricky, involving new cell phone plans and also trade-ins on old devices, but the savings can be absolutely huge if you're eligible. We've also included a third alternative option - cell phone deals from prepaid carriers. These smaller carriers don't tend to offer huge savings on a device, but you'll generally be scoring a much cheaper cell phone plan so it's worth considering the switch for sure.
Which type of cell phone deal should you go for? Well, that will depend on your personal needs. If you're looking for the latest flagship device and an unlimited plan to pair it up with then you'll be well served by Verizon or AT&T's latest promotions. If you're looking for maximum flexibility or long-term savings, then it's generally better to consider either buying a device unlocked and then going with a prepaid carrier, or buying a prepaid device directly from that carrier.
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 Plus: $5/mo with new unlimited line, plus free iPad and Apple Watch at Verizon (opens in new tab)
The excellent iPhone 14 Plus is available for just $5 per month on an unlimited data plan right now - one of the strongest cell phone deals on the entire Verizon site. If getting your hands on a super-cheap flagship device wasn't enough, then note that you can also bundle in that free iPad and Apple Watch SE with this phone this week. This is a very, very strong promotion, particularly because you're not tied to the usual trade-in criteria.
Apple iPhone 14 & 14 Plus: free with eligible trade-in and unlimited plan at AT&T (opens in new tab)
If AT&T is your preferred carrier of choice, you'll also find very similar cell phone deals for the 14 and 14 Plus at this carrier too, with an $800 maximum saving available. Again, you'll need to trade in and be on an unlimited data plan to be eligible for a saving but this is a fantastic way to cut down those monthly fees over your new plan's duration. See this same deal on the iPhone 14 Plus (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).
Samsung Galaxy S23: up to $1,000 off with a trade-in, or free tablet and smartwatch at Verizon (opens in new tab)
It's not just iPhones that are available with significant freebies with this week's cell phone deals at Verizon - you can also get a free Galaxy Watch 5 and Galaxy Tab S7 with a new Galaxy S23. As with the iPhones, you can bundle these in on top of the usual trade-in rebate for some serious value. As of writing, the maximum saving is $800 on the standard Galaxy S23, and up to $1,000 off the Galaxy S23 Plus (opens in new tab) or the Galaxy S23 Ultra (opens in new tab).
Google Pixel 7: $10/mo with unlimited plan at AT&T (opens in new tab)
AT&T's recently switched up its cell phone deals on the Google Pixel 7 to offer a really nice 50% monthly discount with an unlimited plan. Paying just $10 per month for this device is a steal ($360 in total), and you don't even need to trade in to be eligible for the saving here. If you do have a device to trade, then you could consider the Google Pixel 7 Pro (opens in new tab) at this carrier also, which is available with a rebate of up to $800.
If you don't mind switching carriers, you can find many of the best smartphone deals from the big four. The major carriers will often let you split the cost of the phone into monthly payments anywhere from 18 to 30 months, and sometimes longer. The deals they offer frequently cut the price of the phone in half, sometimes even offering the phone for free.
To get these deals, you'll generally need to be adding a new line and signing up for a specific mobile plan. But, as long as you're planning to get an unlimited data plan anyway, they can make it a lot more affordable to pick up a brand new phone.
If you'd like to deep dive into specific carriers, we've got some great content for you in the form of our Verizon deals and AT&T deals pages. There you'll find a full list of what's available, including discounts on plans and even free phones.
Samsung Galaxy S22: was $799 now $699 at Amazon (opens in new tab)
The Galaxy S22 remains a strong choice for 2023 - even though the Galaxy S23 has just been released. Generally speaking, the devices are roughly equivalent save a few internal upgrades so going with the Galaxy S22 could be a shrewd move if you're looking to save some cash. Today's deal at Amazon offers a really decent discount, although we're still $50 off from the cheapest ever price.
Apple iPhone 12: $699.99 $599, plus up to $650 off with an eligible trade-in at Apple (opens in new tab)
Price drop - It's not all about cell phone deals on the newer devices this week. If you're on more of a budget you may want to consider the older (but still great) iPhone 12, which is now a full $200 cheaper upfront versus launch. Surprisingly, Apple hasn't phased out this device yet, which still holds up really well for 2023. It's not quite as powerful as the latest iterations but still features the same basic design, a similar screen, and a camera that can still snap pics with the best of them.
Deals on unlocked smartphones aren't always the most eye-popping, as they tend to offer only small cuts to the retail price. Occasionally you'll find a major deal on a new smartphone, usually late into the one-year refresh cycle for that brand. We've seen this kind of price drop commonly for Samsung flagships, but they aren't frequent and rarely match the up-front discounts carriers offer.
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