Friday’s iPhone Duo preorder launch has plenty of people thinking about upgrading their phones. Whether you’re eyeing Apple’s newest foldable or simply ready to replace an aging device, there are quite a few excellent deals available right now.
Our Picks
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The Nothing Phone 3 isn’t the latest model in the lineup, but it’s still a solid choice. We loved the phone’s macro photography mode. The soft…
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The S26 Ultra has won our Editors’ Choice and is our Lab Test winner. This powerhouse of a phone comes with a long-lasting battery and great c…
Bottom Line
This 2025 Motorola phone is about as cheap as they come. The Motorola Moto G Power has 128GB of storage, a sleek gray or green color, a 6.8-in…
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The iPhone 16E is one of the most recent budget-friendly Apple releases, priced at $600. The white option is currently discounted by at Best B…
Bottom Line
Though not the most recent 2026 version of the Motorola Moto G Stylus, this hefty discount on a brand-new, unlocked 2024 model is well worth c…
Bottom Line
This is one of the simpler phones from Samsung. But that doesn’t mean it doesn’t pack a punch of features. Some of these advanced features inc…
Bottom Line
T-Mobile has a ton of offers to help you snag a new iPhone 18 for less right now. If you’re on an Experience Beyond plan, have an eligible tra…
Bottom Line
The iPhone 17E is the most affordable model in Apple’s lineup. It’s even cheaper when you grab one at AT&T. You can get the 17E for practicall…
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T-Mobile is offering solid savings on all the Pixel 11 models right now. You can get any of the Pixel 11 lineup for up to $1,000 off if you ha…
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AT&T is giving you the S26 FE phone for free. You don’t even need to trade anything in. All you need to do is open a new line on an eligible i…
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The Apple iPhone Air is thin, light and speedy. It comes in four colors and typically sells for $1,000. However, AT&T is offering a huge disco…
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You could potentially get the iPhone 17E for free at T-Mobile when you trade in an eligible device and open a new line on the Experience More …
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Optimum currently has the Samsung Galaxy S26, S26 Plus and S26 Ultra in stock. It’s currently offering up to $500 off the Samsung Galaxy S26 P…
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Not only have we found multiple deals on Apple, Samsung and Google smartphones, but we’ve come across this Nothing Phone 3 for a nice $150 off. Want to trade in your current device? Doing so might help you nab the latest Samsung Galaxy S26 for free. These deals are unpredictable, so it’s best to act fast.
From trade-in offers that could land you a free Galaxy S26 to discounts on Google’s latest Pixels and Apple’s current iPhones, retailers and carriers are competing for new customers. We’ve rounded up the best phone deals available today so you can compare your options before deciding what belongs in your pocket next.
Best unlocked phone deals right now
Shopping for a new phone from a carrier comes with red tape and fine print, which can be a headache. An easier alternative is an unlocked model. Choosing an unlocked phone means you won’t be immediately tied to a multiyear contract or service plan, and you can always activate it with your preferred carrier later. There are plenty of no-strings-attached deals to reduce the starting price.
These deals won’t save you as much as the carrier deals further down, but on the plus side, they don’t need a trade-in or a new line of service. Below, we’ve rounded up some of the best discounts on unlocked phones that you can shop right now.
The Nothing Phone 3 isn’t the latest model in the lineup, but it’s still a solid choice. We loved the phone’s macro photography mode. The software support period is also helpful. Plus, the quirky design is certainly eye-catching.
Not to mention it’s seeing a $150 price cut right now, dropping it to $549. You can even save up to $600 when you trade in an older device.
$549 (save $150, plus trade-in)
The S26 Ultra has won our Editors’ Choice and is our Lab Test winner. This powerhouse of a phone comes with a long-lasting battery and great cameras. While the $200 discount does bring the price down, it’s still a hefty $1,100.
If you have an older device to trade in, you can stack the savings even further. Plus, you’ll get a free month of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate.
$1,100 (save $200, more with trade-in)
This 2025 Motorola phone is about as cheap as they come. The Motorola Moto G Power has 128GB of storage, a sleek gray or green color, a 6.8-inch screen, a 50-megapixel rear-facing camera, and a 16-megapixel front-facing camera.
Best Buy is offering a $100 discount and a free month of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, plus you can save even more by trading in an older device.
$200 (save $100, more with trade in)
The iPhone 16E is one of the most recent budget-friendly Apple releases, priced at $600. The white option is currently discounted by at Best Buy by $60, but if you have an eligible device to trade in, you could save even more.
Of note: Best Buy mostly carries only refurbished, unlocked iPhone 16E models, but this deal is for a new, unlocked model.
$540 (save $60, more with trade-in)
Though not the most recent 2026 version of the Motorola Moto G Stylus, this hefty discount on a brand-new, unlocked 2024 model is well worth considering. With a 6.7-inch screen, a 50-megapixel main camera lens, a 13-megapixel ultrawide lens, and a 32-megapixel front camera, you’ll get a lot of bang for your buck.
This is one of the simpler phones from Samsung. But that doesn’t mean it doesn’t pack a punch of features. Some of these advanced features included AI photo editing and the One UI 7 interface.
Save $100 right now at Amazon, more if you have a trade-in.
$390 (save $100, more with trade-in)
Best phone deals from carriers
You can also save by trading in your old device or activating a line of service with major carriers, which means you have plenty of places to look for phone deals. That’s why CNET is working with Navi to help cut through the confusion. Navi is an independent marketplace that aggregates information on service plans and phone deals to help consumers find the best choices and prices. Below, you’ll find some of the best deals for new and existing carrier customers who are adding lines and trading in phones.
Read more: Best Phone Plan Deals
Carrier contracts as we knew them may no longer be around, but newer phone deals from AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon and others are similar in many ways. Through monthly bill credits, you can get a phone for next to nothing in many cases. The stipulation is that you must remain a customer for a set period to keep receiving the credits. Otherwise, you’re responsible for the remaining costs and potentially more, depending on the carrier.
In addition, some carriers will allow you to take advantage of these deals only on specific plans, usually their more expensive 5G plans. So be sure to understand the monthly costs associated with switching before committing to that “free phone” deal you see advertised.
Read more: Cheap Phone Plans, Compared
T-Mobile has a ton of offers to help you snag a new iPhone 18 for less right now. If you’re on an Experience Beyond plan, have an eligible trade-in, or a new line and port-in of an existing number, you can save up to $1,000. That puts the basic iPhone 18 Pro in your pocket for around $6 per month, and knocks the 18 Pro Max down to just $8 per month.
Save up to $1,000 with trade
The iPhone 17E is the most affordable model in Apple’s lineup. It’s even cheaper when you grab one at AT&T. You can get the 17E for practically free when you open a new line on any of AT&T’s unlimited plans and purchase the phone on an installment plan. This brings the phone down to $0.43 per month. You could also get up to $800 to break your current contract and switch to AT&T.
T-Mobile is offering solid savings on all the Pixel 11 models right now. You can get any of the Pixel 11 lineup for up to $1,000 off if you have an eligible trade-in or open a new line on the Experience Beyond plans. You could also get up to $900 off if you switch to T-Mobile from your current carrier.
Save $1,000 with new line or trade-in
AT&T is giving you the S26 FE phone for free. You don’t even need to trade anything in. All you need to do is open a new line on an eligible installment plan, and you’ll score the phone for free.
The Apple iPhone Air is thin, light and speedy. It comes in four colors and typically sells for $1,000. However, AT&T is offering a huge discount. If you buy the phone online and add a new line on an eligible installment plan, you’ll score the phone for 43 cents per month.
You could also get up to $800 off if you break your current contract and switch to AT&T.
You could potentially get the iPhone 17E for free at T-Mobile when you trade in an eligible device and open a new line on the Experience More or Experience Beyond plan. iPhone 13 Pro and up would net you the full discount; Samsung devices are accepted, too. You’ll get the discounts via 24 monthly bill credits.
Optimum currently has the Samsung Galaxy S26, S26 Plus and S26 Ultra in stock. It’s currently offering up to $500 off the Samsung Galaxy S26 Plus and the basic version on select plans. The S26 Ultra is also up to $600 off without trade-in. This offer is available to current and new customers.
Do you get the best phone deals when you switch carriers?
To attract new customers, carriers often reserve their deepest discounts for those switching carriers. That means you may find a more appealing phone deal if you consider moving carriers. It’s a straightforward process, but it can be a little complicated for those with multiple lines. Ultimately, it’s worth shopping around when it’s time to upgrade your phone, in case another offers a switcher bonus or a switcher-exclusive phone deal.
Unlocked vs. carrier: Which phone deals are the best for most?
Whether you want to purchase your new phone on a carrier plan or buy it unlocked depends on your preferences and circumstances. For many folks, spreading the cost of a phone over two or three years makes it much easier to upgrade to one of the best phones on the market.
For others, being locked into a long-term plan is less than ideal. While carriers often compete to offer steep discounts or freebies, manufacturers now tend to offer their own trade-in and financing programs to make upgrading more affordable without involving a carrier.
Adam Oram is a Senior Editor at CNET. He studied Media at Newcastle University and has been writing about technology since 2013. He previously worked as a Senior Writer at iMore, Deals Editor at Thrifter, and as an Apple Genius. His spare time is spent watching football (both kinds), playing Pokémon games, and eating vegan food.
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Palash has been writing about technology (and entertainment) for over a decade. His focus has been on the evolution of computing, ranging from smartphones to PC builds and everything in between. You can reach him at lepalash(at)gmail(dot)com, or on Twitter @Whipalash.
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Prakhar Khanna is a Writer at CNET with bylines in ZDNET, Forbes, and other major outlets. A digital nomad at heart, he thrives in chaos–mixing deadlines with travel, often writing stories on planes, trains, and cafe tables while hunting down the best pizza spots wherever he lands. His backpack usually carries one phone too many, and his playlists are stacked with 2000s Bollywood. Find him across social media @ParkyPrakhar.
Contact: parkydoesstuff(at)gmail(dot)com
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