This October Prime Day arrives hot on the heels of the launches of several new phones that immediately impressed us, and several phone-makers have slashed prices during this deals event. If you want to save hundreds of dollars on a new phone, now’s the time.
There’s been a good spread of discounts for Prime Big Deal Days, but you’ll need to act fast, as they’ll likely go away when the event ends at midnight PT tonight. The one I’m most excited about is for the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8, the most exciting foldable so far this year, thanks to its passport-style format. But there are deals for other foldables and new conventional flat phones as well if you’re looking for the highest-value premium phone.
All these suggestions are for Android phones, which get discounted far more often than Apple’s iPhones. If you’re looking to get a deal on the new foldable iPhone Duo, you’re even more out of luck, as that doesn’t hit store shelves until Oct. 23. But if you’re looking for a phone during the deal event, here are great options that save hundreds of dollars each.
Note that the deals listed below are for the lowest-tier storage options, typically 256GB. There are deals for higher storage configurations of the same phone — just click the links provided and select 512GB or 1TB, which should also see some discounts while supplies last. Note also that all of these deals apply only to Prime members, but nonmembers may still see some savings.
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 is a high-end foldable with a neat design — a passport-sized phone when folded shut that’s handy to hold, but it unfolds to reveal a widescreen-friendly 4:3 ratio display. Normally $1,900, this Prime Day deal knocks $365 off the price for Prime members, bringing it down to $1,535 for the 256GB model.
The Z Fold 8 is the new entry-level book-style foldable and is a bit cheaper than its more premium sibling, the Z Fold 8 Ultra, which is taller and narrower, opening up to a more square-format internal display. While both foldables have main and ultrawide cameras, the Z Fold 8 Ultra also has a telephoto camera — a compromise that owners of the Z Fold 8 make for its neat design. We liked the Galaxy Z Fold 8 so much that it received a CNET Editors’ Choice Award.
While the Z Fold 8 turns heads with its squat, passport-style design, the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra is the true top-of-the-line foldable, with a main camera suite that rivals Samsung’s flat Galaxy S26 Ultra. However, the ultrawide and telephoto don’t quite match the S26 Ultra. You’ll pay a premium for these features, as the Z Fold 8 Ultra starts at $2,100 for 256GB of storage, but this Prime Day deal saves $415 off the list price, dropping it down to $1,685, but only for Prime members.
The Z Fold 8 Ultra is in the running as the most premium foldable on the market, and will outstrip the upcoming iPhone Duo in terms of photographic capability. Even other Android foldables like the Google Pixel 11 Pro Fold don’t measure up in the camera department.
The Google Pixel 11 Pro is one of our favorite high-end Android smartphones released in 2026, with great cameras and features. Starting at $1,099 for 256GB of storage, this Prime Day deal knocks $265 off the price, bringing it down to $834 for Prime members only.
The Pixel 11 Pro is the latest in Google’s line of premium smartphones, and the company saves its best cameras for its flat flagship (skimping on the megapixels in the Pixel 11 Pro Fold’s shooters), unlike Samsung. The Pixel 11 Pro packs a larger image sensor to capture more light when taking shots, and packs the filters and AI features like Best Take and Magic Eraser that make Google’s phones shine.
While the passport-size Z Fold 8 has stolen the spotlight, the clamshell Galaxy Z Flip 8 remains a chic foldable that’s far more affordable than its book-style siblings. This October Prime Day deal gets $225 off its $1,200 starting price, bringing it down to $975 for the 256GB of storage configuration — again for Prime members only. That makes up for the $100 price hike this phone received.
The Z Flip 8 has a large 4.1-inch cover screen, a 6.9-inch inner screen as large as a conventional flat phone, main and ultrawide rear cameras and powerful hardware. It’s eminently capable and pocketable, so if you’re looking for a foldable that won’t break the bank, the Z Flip 8 is at the top of the list.
While Samsung’s foldables are flashy, they’re also expensive, some nearing $2,000. The reliable Galaxy A57 is the no-nonsense alternative for people who want solid features at a midrange price. This October Prime Day deal knocks $200 off the $600 starting price, bringing it down to $400 for the 128GB storage configuration — again, for Prime members. This compensates for the price hike the phone received.
The Galaxy A57 sits between the Galaxy S26 FE and Galaxy A37 in terms of features and price. It packs a 50-megapixel main, 12-megapixel ultrawide and 5-megapixel macro rear cameras, a 6.7-inch display and a suite of AI features like language translation and erasing objects in photos. Samsung also trimmed nearly 20 grams off its weight, making it noticeably lighter than its predecessor.
What’s the best choice?
The best phone will always be subjective to the buyer, as needs differ — do you prioritize price, performance, cameras, battery life or something else? But there are some clearer winners among the pack. The squat, wide Galaxy Z Fold 8 has been popular with fans and, anecdotally at least, among friends who have picked up the passport-size foldable. But if you can’t bring yourself to spend nearly $2,000 on a foldable, the Pixel 11 Pro comes in at a great price mere months after its launch. For those who want a more modest phone at a fraction of the prices of these more premium phones, the Galaxy A57 is a great pick.
Should you wait for Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales?
Every year, Black Friday and Cyber Monday feature some of the best discounts on tech all year, which include savings on Android phones (and a limited number of Apple iPhones, too). Judging by the discounts we’ve seen above, it’s possible that there will be slightly bigger discounts on the Z Fold 8, Z Fold 8 Ultra and Pixel 11 Pro devices during the Black Friday/Cyber Monday period. But there’s no guarantee, and the deals in the October Prime Big Deals Day event are novel in how soon they’ve been applied after these phones launched — less than two months in some cases. It’s possible to save more, but $250 to $400 in savings is still a big deal.
David Lumb
Managing Editor, Mobile
David Lumb is a managing editor for the mobile team, covering mobile and gaming spaces. Before CNET, he covered tech, gaming, and culture for TechRadar, Engadget, Popular Mechanics, NBC Asian America, Increment, Fast Company and others. As a true Californian, he lives for coffee, beaches and burritos.
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