12.06.24
Phone deals are a dime a dozen. Truly. All carriers want new customers, and one of the easier ways they can get some is by offering a new phone for less, or in some cases, even for free. But looking up phone deals can feel like walking into a mall on Black Friday – total and utter chaos. Flashy signs and exclamation marks everywhere. Which is why we put together a handy list of the best cell phone deals you can find right now, scouring all over the internet to do the work for you. We'll update this list regularly, so you can be sure to always be in-the-know for the greatest phone deals right now.
TextNow Tip: To find out just how much you can be saving by either buying a phone outright or financing it, you can run an easy comparison using an online phone bill calculator.
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Summary of the Best Phone Deals
| Category | Phone | Price | Find it at: |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best Phone Deal Overall | Google Pixel 9 | $649 | Amazon |
| Best Free Phone Deal | Samsung Galaxy A16 | $0 | Walmart |
| Best Unlocked Phone Deal | Moto G Power 5G | $209.99 | Motorola |
| Best Phone Deal From a Carrier | Moto G Stylus 5G 2024 | $99.99 | Google Fi Wireless |
| Best iPhone Deal | Apple iPhone 16e | $199.99 | Cricket Wireless |
| Best Phone Deal for Under $200 | BLU G64L | $99.99 | eBay |
Best phone deal overall
Google Pixel 9
Price $649
Network Unlocked
Phone Plan Pick from any of the
cheapest phone plans,
affordable unlimited data plans,
or even
talk & text only (no data) plans.
Our Take This is the highest price tag on our list, but still an affordable price for the premium features this phone offers! Between its camera specs, Google AI integration, and processing power, this is a phone that won't let you down.
Get it at Amazon
Get it at Amazon
Pros & Cons Pros:
- Gemini AI integration that allows for advanced photo editing, online search through photos, and more.
- Unlocked, so you can pair it with a cheaper phone plan and save even more.
- 3 cameras with 50MP and 48MP rear cameras.
- 12GB of RAM memory for unmatched performance.
- Price may still be too expensive for some.
Best free phone deal
Samsung Galaxy A16
Price $99.88 $0
Network Total Wireless
Phone Plan Minimum $50/month Total 5G Unlimited Data plan.
Our Take Total Wireless is currently offering a variety of phones for free when you switch, but this is the only deal that allows you to get your money back (making the phone $0) after 2 months of their plan redemption, whereas the other deals involve signing on for a 3-month plan package, which is more expensive up front and less flexible.
Get it at Walmart.
Get it at Walmart.
Pros & Cons Pros:
- AMOLED screen for better visual performance.
- 50MP rear camera resolution.
- Long-lasting 5,000 mAh battery (better than the iPhone 16!).
- Deal only eligible if you sign up with Total Wireless.
- The rest of the cameras have significantly lower resolutions.
Best unlocked phone deal
Moto G Power
Price $209.99
Network Unlocked
Phone Plan Pick from any of the
cheapest phone plans,
affordable unlimited data plans,
or even
talk & text only (no data) plans.
Our Take This Moto G Power comes with tech specs you'd expect out of a much more expensive phone, making this pick the absolute bang for your buck.
Get it at Motorola.
Get it at Motorola.
Pros & Cons Pros:
- Comes with 1TB of expandable storage.
- 5,000 mAh battery size for ultimate longevity.
- Triple camera system with rear 50MP camera.
- Dual-SIM support.
- Unlocked.
- The external design of the phone is made with vegan leather, which may be too bulky with a case.
Best carrier phone deal
Moto G Stylus
Price $99.99
Network Google Fi Wireless
Phone Plan Any of the Google Fi full-service plans, starting at $35/month for their Unlimited Essentials plan.
Our Take What can we say, Motorola makes good phones at good prices. This model is a slight step-up from the Moto G Power, retaining all the specs you want, while improving others. Note that the price only applies if you retain your Google Fi plan for 120 days (4 months).
Get it at Google Fi Wireless.
Get it at Google Fi Wireless.
Pros & Cons Pros:
- Expandable storage up to 2TB for endless pictures and videos.
- Speaking of pictures and videos, this also comes with a triple-camera system that boasts of a 32MP front camera and 50MP rear camera.
- Comes with a pen for easier and more accurate screen navigation.
- Discount is only applied/valid if you stay with a Google Fi Wireless service plan for 4 months.
Best Phone Deal under $200
BLU G64L
Price $99.99
Network Unlocked
Phone Plan Pick from any of the
cheapest phone plans,
affordable unlimited data plans,
or even
talk & text only (no data) plans.
Our Take If all you need is a phone that can surf the web, let you scroll through your feed and stay connected to those that matter, then you don't need to spend any more than $100 to get a phone that can do all that, without slowing you down with poor performance.
Get it at eBay.
Get it at eBay.
Pros & Cons Pros:
- While it only comes with 64GB internal storage, it does offer expandable store with a microSD slot up to 256GB.
- 5,000 mAh battery for longevity (more than the latest iPhones).
- Triple camera system.
- Does not support 5G, only LTE.
- Screen resolution and camera resolution are on the lower side.
- Does have dual SIM slots, but no eSIM support.
Best iPhone Deal
Apple iPhone 16e
Price $199.99
Network Cricket Wireless
Phone Plan Minimum $60/month Unlimited Data plan required.
Our Take While the iPhone 16e is already the most affordable iPhone Apple has put out in a long time, getting the latest model for less than $200 is an opportunity that does not come often. Beware that this only applies if you're a new customer to Cricket, otherwise, the price jumps up to $499.99 for existing customers.
Get it at Cricket Wireless.
Get it at Cricket Wireless.
Pros & Cons Pros:
- Enjoy the latest iOS 18 software with built-in AI.
- 48MP 2-in-1 camera system, bringing your pictures to life online.
- Long-lasting battery life.
- Locked to Cricket Wireless.
- eSIM only, making SIM swapping more difficult.
Methodology: How we select the best phone deals
We know that the best phone service deserves the best phone. While price is a key factor in phone purchases, there are other modern features that are integral to your everyday phone experience.
We also account for camera quality, storage, and 5G capabilities. While the camera quality needs will vary person to person, it's important that a certain minimum standard (16MP) be met. We know how important those photos are!
Storage is equally as important, as low storage can affect phone performance overall (slower apps and errors on certain apps), so if 128GB isn't standard, we look for phones that can support expendable storage to avoid poor performance.
And lastly, as 5G is becoming the standard, we want to ensure that you're getting your money's worth with the higher end models by being able to support the fastest network for an easier time downloading and uploading your content.
Guide to finding the best phone deals
When looking for a phone deal, whether you're ready for an upgrade, looking to get your kid their first phone, or just looking for a sale, there are different considerations to make. Here is a rundown of everything you need to know.
Difference between locked and unlocked phones
We use "unlocked" and "locked to..." a lot, so here is a a simple explanation of what those mean!
An unlocked phone should actually be expanded to say carrier-unlocked. Because that's what it means – a phone that isn't locked to any one carrier. Usually bought from a retailer (not a carrier) like BestBuy, Amazon, or even directly from the manufacturer, like Apple or Samsung.
A locked phone, on the other hand, is locked to a specific carrier. So, say you buy a Verizon-locked phone, that phone has software on it (from Verizon) that prevents it from being activated on or connecting to any other network. So you won't be able to easily take it to another carrier if you decide to switch plans.
TextNow Tip: Always look for an unlocked phone if you can – the money you save from not having to stick with a potentially higher monthly phone plan will almost always be more than the temporary money you save on a locked phone deal.
Don't forget! Locked phones can be unlocked, but that process differs across carriers. You can check out TextNow's guide on how to unlock your phone from your carrier for more information.
Types of phone deals
You're going to find very different phone deals, and it's important to know which one works for you.
Carrier Discounts and Promotions
Carriers like to bring in new customers with phone sales/promotions. Those can include a "new customer" sales price when you sign up for a (usually premium) monthly plan, a contract-based discount where you can get a phone discounted when signing up for a 24 or even 36-month plan contract, or just a plain switch promotion – switch from your old carrier and get a free (or discounted) phone!
Our take: Be sure that you're willing to commit to a certain monthly plan before going through with one of these deals.Trade-in Offers
This kind of deal can be found through carriers, but also through manufacturers and other retailers directly. It involves trading in an old phone to get a discount on a new one. (If you want to trade in a phone, you'll need to know your phone model and other details to discover trade-in value.)
Our take: These are great if you already have a phone and are looking for an upgrade, as they give you a lot more options, and won't lock you in to any commitment.Instalment Plans
You will find a lot of online websites promoting a low weekly or monthly price tag next to a phone, as part of their financing option. The phone is then usually advertised with the more appealing monthly price (say, $30/month) to seem like a good deal.
Our take: A true deal will be when you can find a finance plan that has 0% APR (interest). That way, you're only ever paying for the actual price tag of the phone, and not a penny more. You can also build credit with your phone purchase if it's through a retailer or manufacturer that reports finance plan payments to the credit bureaus.Seasonal Sales
And lastly, the most common one is the tried and true seasonal sale. Most common for phones around Black Friday, Cyber Monday, the holidays, and Back to School.Our take: It's definitely worthwhile to wait until one to find a deal, as that is when you'll find the most options with the deepest discounts!
Pros & Cons of getting a phone deal
| Pros: | Cons: |
|---|---|
| Savings:
The obvious pro is that you get a new phone for less, giving you some money back in your budget. |
Environmental concerns:
Upgrading your phone frequently isn't exactly the most environmentally friendly move. The manufacturing of new phones is an extremely taxing process (mainly due to lithium mining), and most discarded phones actually end up in a landfill. |
| New tech:
Upgrading to a new phone means that you get to upgrade your phone capabilities as well! From sharper pictures with a better camera to faster loading of pages and feeds with a better processor/RAM, your online experience can be greatly improved by a good phone deal. |
Contracts:
As mentioned before, a lot of deals are dependent on signing up for a contract to secure the discount. These usually entail signing up for a monthly service plan that starts at $50-$65/month. Over the course of the contract, you'll probably end up spending more than you would have without the discount but with a cheaper phone plan. |
TextNow Tip: Hand down your old phone to a family member or friend. You can even hook up your teen with their first phone this way by activating a TextNow SIM card so they can get access to unlimited calls & texts, plus essential apps while on the go!
How to select the best phone deal
What's better, buying a phone online or in-store?
That will all purely depend on what's important to you. The prices won't vary between online or store for the most price, but other factors you'd need to consider would be:
Shipping Time
If you're purchasing a phone online, you'd have to account for shipping times (usually within 1-3 business days, but delays are always possible). On top of that, you may also need to account for availability to receive the package to ensure it's not stolen.Hands-on Experience
If you're buying a new phone that you've never used before, you may want to test it out in your hand first to determine if it's a phone you actually like. You can feel out the size, the screen, the controls, even the camera in-store to make sure it's a 100% loved purchase.Customer Service
While you can certainly find a chatbox or a FAQ page to answer any questions you may have about the phone, or more importantly, to help you with the activation of the phone, that kind of help is more easily found in-store.Phone Selection and Price Comparisons
It's decidedly much easier to find a wide range of phones and compare their prices online than it is in-store. Online shopping is generally recommended for finding the best deal.
Tips for getting a good phone deal
Verify it's a sale.
Before falling for the shiny price tag, make sure the "sales" price you're seeing online is actually a sale. You'd be surprised by how many retailers (ahem, Amazon) actually hike up the prices a few weeks leading up to a sale, only to drop them down to a normal price and call it a sale.
Websites like CamelCamelCamel (specifically for Amazon), or PriceSpider (for most other online retailers) will look up the historical price of the item you found so you can make a more informed buying decision.Look for coupons.
Even if you did find a verified sale, there's no harm in looking around for even deeper discounts. There are plenty of online coupon websites like RetailMeNot or SlickDeals to find decent promo codes.
TextNow Tip: Install the free browser extension Honey on your computer, which will automatically search the web for coupons specific to the retail website you're on at the time and apply the best one for you! (I myself just saved 15% the other day buying my son some new fall clothes on Gap's website by using Honey).
3. Compare, compare, compare!
If you're after a specific phone, and find a deal, make sure you look up that phone model on Google, click on the "Shopping" tab and compare all the prices from all the retailers to find the best one. Never assume the first price you see is the best one!
Frequently Asked Questions about buying a new phone:
Got questions or comments? Send us a note at [email protected]!
