Hello? Yes, I’d Like To Hear More About the Best Early Black Friday Smartphone Deals

Black Friday is inching closer, but you don’t have to wait that long to get a new smartphone. Why? Because we’re already seeing some of the most impressive deals ever for the best smartphones on the market. From Samsung to Google, from brick phones to flip phones, we’ve found some stellar deals for all makes and models. And this is just the start, check back often heading into November 29 to see what new sales are going down.

And don’t forget to check out the Best Early Black Friday Deals Available Now.

Being able to save $350 on the Google Pixel 8 Pro is a good deal on any day of the week, including just ahead of Black Friday. In our review, our expert gave it an “Excellent” rating, praising the AI-assisted photo and video editing capabilities, as well as the excellently bright display. “The Google Pixel 8 Pro puts the power of machine learning and Google Assistant to effective use,” Iyaz Akhtar added.

Another phone that saw Black Friday coming and dropped to its best price so far is the Samsung Galazy Z Flip 6. This one isn’t just a device to help millennials travel down memory lane, it’s a smartphone with bright screens, quality cameras and a damn good build. In our review, our expert, Iyaz Akhtar, gave it an “Excellent” rating and noted that “the Z Flip 5 is still the best small foldable overall.”

The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra phone is one of the best models you can get right now and even though we’re a couple of months away from a new model, we’re still excited about everything it has to offer. Iyaz Akhtar, our expert, reviewed the S24 Ultra and gave it an “Outstanding” rating and our Editor’s Choice award, appreciated the speedy performance, gorgeous screen, and terrific cameras. “The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra is the best Android phone you can buy right now,” Akhtar notes. That’s high praise, now with a much lower price!

With 44% off ahead of Black Friday, the Motorola Edge+ is a solid pick if you don’t want to spend a fortune on a new phone. In our review of the Edge+, we gave this phone an “Excellent” rating and our Editors’ Choice award, praising the phone’s battery life and performance, as well as the beautifully curved screen. Our expert, Dave LeClair, concluded this phone is “your best bet for high-end Android performance under $1,000.”

Are you as excited about Black Friday as we are? Great! Because we’ve already dug up a ton of impressive deals!

Smartphone FAQs

I’m Eric Zeman, PCMag’s Managing Editor for consumer electronics content, overseeing an experienced team of reviewers and product testers. I’ve been covering tech for more than 22 years. I’ve written thousands of product reviews of cell phones and I’m here to answer the most pressing smartphone questions you might be facing this Black Friday.

Is Black Friday/Cyber Monday a Good Time to Buy a Phone? Should I Wait Until Then?

Black Friday and Cyber Monday are great times to buy a new phone. Carriers like AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon offer special deals and discounts on all the hottest phones. You’ll get the most bang for your buck if you have an old phone to trade in since carriers are paying top dollar to get them. Sometimes, a trade-in will get you a free Apple iPhone, Google Pixel, or Samsung Galaxy, but don’t count out cheaper devices from Motorola or OnePlus. Also, some carrier deals may include discounts on accessories like Bluetooth headphones, cases, and rechargeable batteries.

Will iPhones Go Down in Price on Black Friday?

Not exactly. Apple does not discount the price of iPhones; it always charges full price. However, that doesn’t mean you can’t get a deal. Apple allows you to trade in old iPhones for a new one, meaning you’ll get a discount on the new device. Apple’s carrier partners, AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon, will be far more aggressive about trade-in values and phone deals across their portfolio.

Which Smartphones Have the Best Cameras?

Phones from the biggest three phone manufacturers tend to have the best cameras. In the US, that means phones from Apple, Google, and Samsung. Apple’s iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max have the most feature-rich cameras across the iPhone line and are far and away the best at recording video. Google’s Pixel 9 Pro and 9 Pro XL have superb cameras aided by advanced AI-editing capabilities. Samsung’s Galaxy S24 Ultra is a powerhouse with a sharp camera that can record 8K video.

About Eric Zeman

Managing Editor, Consumer Electronics

I’m PCMag’s managing editor for consumer electronics content, overseeing an experienced team of reviewers and product testers. I’ve been covering tech for more than 22 years. Prior to PCMag, I worked at outlets such as Android Authority, Fortune, InformationWeek, and Phonescoop. 

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About Gabriela Vatu

Contributor

I have been a writer since 2006 when I covered various domains for local publications. In 2012, I started covering technology broadly and I’ve written thousands of articles since then. I’ve written social media and cybersecurity news, software and hardware reviews, streaming guides, how-tos, tech deals, and more. I have bylines in numerous publications, including MakeUseOf, Pocket-Lint, Android Police, How to Geek, XDA, Softpedia, as well as here at PCMag. When I’m not working, I like to spend time with my family, read, game, paint, listen to music, and run around after our many pets asking what it is they’re chewing on this time.

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