With how expensive smartphones are, it’s no wonder that so many people wait until Black Friday to upgrade their current phone. Just look at the iPhone 13 Pro, which costs a shocking $999.
To avoid these steep costs, make sure to look online during the days leading up to November 26 as many cell phone retailers will begin announcing substantial discounts. It’s important to stay ahead of the curve since the best deals sell out fast.
What to Expect on Black Friday
A great way to get the best deal in 2021 is to know the best deals that occurred the prior year. Many retailers follow a pattern of having minimal discounts on the most up-to-date phone models, while older models receive more substantial discounts. By checking what companies like AT&T and Verizon or retailers like Best Buy and Walmart offered for Black Friday in 2020, you can possibly predict the discounts to come in 2021.
While it can be fun to shop in-person on Black Friday, it’s not always the most effective way to find deals. Most cell phone retailers this year will be offering Black Friday deals online. This also means that some deals will be available in the days leading up to November 26. While this is great as it lets you shop from the comfort of your home, it does mean that these retailers could run out of stock quickly. As such, it is recommended you search online for phone deals first to ensure you are getting the best price possible.
If you are looking to purchase an Apple, Google, or Samsung phone, Black Friday and Cyber Monday are great times to do so. These brands have historically offered great deals during these times — and this year shouldn’t be any different.
Start Shopping Black Friday Cell Phone Deals
Every year, Black Friday discounts start earlier than the last. It’s always best to be ahead of the game, so don’t wait until November 26 to take advantage of Black Friday deals.
The following are some of the best Black Friday deals that were offered last year. As stated previously, understanding the best deals of the previous year will give you a great idea as to what will be offered this year. So, let’s take a look at some of the best deals of 2020 from major retailers like Best Buy and Walmart.
Best Buy
Last year, Best Buy offered a fantastic discount on the Motorola edge 5G, which is surprising as the phone had just been released in September of 2020. Before Black Friday, the Motorola edge was priced at $584.99. However, that price dropped all the way down to $349.99 during Best Buy’s Black Friday sale.
Best Buy also offered the Galaxy S20 5G and Note 20 5G unlocked for $150 to 250 cheaper than the starting price. When smartphones are offered from retailers, it is important to ensure that they are “unlocked”. Unlocked means that the phone is not tied to a specific carrier. As such, you can use the carrier you are already affiliated with for the phone.
Although only offered for a day, Best Buy offered the iPhone SE for just $199.99 on November 22, 2020, if you traded in an iPhone 7 or any other newer model. Getting a newer model iPhone for approximately $200 is a great deal that you will only find during Black Friday.
Much like 2020, Best Buy has already started their 2021 Black Friday sale. While more deals will become available as it gets closer to November 26, here are a few of the deals Best Buy currently has available:
- Save up to $725 off the iPhone 13 if you trade in an iPhone 8 or newer model.
- Save up to $600 on select unlocked Samsung Galaxy phones.
- 70 percent off Lively Jitterbug Flip2 phones.
- 50 percent off select iPhone 11 cases.
- 40 percent off iPhone 12 mini screen protectors.
- Free flip cover and pen with the purchase of a Samsung Z Fold3.
Walmart
Last year, Walmart held a Black Friday 2 Day Wireless Event in which they offered some amazing deals. Some of the deals offered were:
- $150 off the iPhone SE;
- iPhone XR for $299, and;
- Samsung Galaxy A51 for $199.
Fortunately, you don’t need to dwell on last year’s deals for long as Walmart has an early Black Friday sales event starting on November 10. This event will offer the:
- Alcatel AXEL prepaid smartphone for $49 with AT&T;
- Samsung Galaxy A11 prepaid smartphone for $99;
- 64GB iPhone XR for $299 through Walmart Family Mobile, and;
- 64GB iPhone 11 for $399 through Straight Talk.
It is good to keep in mind that only a small amount of news has broken surrounding Walmart’s 2021 Black Friday sales. That means it’s still a good idea to look over the deals Walmart advertised in 2020, so you can plan what brand of phone and discount is best for you to pursue this Black Friday.
Search Online to Find the Best Black Friday Cell Phone Offers
In recent years, as in-person activities have been limited, the use of online shopping has increased dramatically. This has led to major retailers, such as Best Buy and Walmart, moving much of their Black Friday sales online. What this also entails is that Black Friday sales start sooner, sometimes even weeks prior to the official date.
Black Friday is a great time to purchase a new cell phone as sometimes you can find a deal that gives you nearly 50 percent off the original price. Smartphones can be an expensive investment, so be sure to get your hands on the best options before supplies run out.