If your phone is starting to give you a hard time by slowing down or running out of storage after taking one picture, it might be time to upgrade. The good news is that you don't have to empty the bank on a new phone. There are solid options in every price range right now, and we've tracked down the best deals across the board so you don't have to wade through the noise yourself.
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 $200 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.
Prefer to go through a carrier? AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon is running new line and trade-in offers that can stack significant savings on top of whatever's already discounted. Our CNET shopping team is regularly combing through deals and updating this page as things change and to ensure the deals are fresh. Keep a close eye on this space and lock in your deal before it's gone.
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 $200 price cut right now, dropping it to $599. You can even save up to $600 when you trade in an older device.
The Pixel 10A is our top pick for Android users looking for a great value. It's part of Google's budget-friendly 10-series lineup and can match, or even exceed, the main Pixel 10 in certain areas.
You can also save up to $495 with a trade-in.
This 2024 Motorola phone is about as cheap as they come. The Motorola Moto G Play has 64GB of storage, a sleek sapphire blue color, a 6.5-inch screen, a 50-megapixel rear-facing camera, and an 8-megapixel front-facing camera.
Best Buy isn't offering a direct discount, but you can save with a trade-in.
The iPhone 16E is one of the most budget-friendly recent Apple releases at $600. The white option is currently discounted by $60, but if you have an eligible device to trade in, you could save even more. Plus, Best Buy automatically gives you a $100 discount if you let it connect you to a carrier.
Of note: Best Buy mostly carries only refurbished, unlocked iPhone 16E models.
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 front camera that is 32-megapixels, you'll get a lot of bang for your buck.
This is one of the more simple 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 $40 right now at Best Buy.
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
Apple's new iPhone 17 lineup dominates our list of the best phones for 2026, and T-Mobile is offering you a chance to grab any model for less right now. You can get up to $1,100 off with a trade-in and a new line on an eligible plan. This makes the whole of the lineup free to grab. You can also score up to $1,100 off when you switch to T-Mobile. There's also a variety of discounts for people over 55, first responders, and military members.
The iPhone 16E is the most affordable model in Apple's lineup. It's even cheaper when you grab one at AT&T. Purchasing online takes $200 off the price when you add a new line, and you can also get up to an $800 AT&T Visa Reward card when you switch to AT&T from another carrier.
If you choose to bundle the iPhone 16E and the Ray-Ban Meta 2 glasses, you can score $150 off the bundle.
T-Mobile is offering solid savings on all the Pixel 10 models right now. You can get up to a $1,000 off with an eligible trade-in or a new line on the Experience plans. You can get the Pixel 10A and the 10 Pro for free. The 10 Pro Fold drops down to $33 a month, the 10 Pro XL is $8 a month, and the base Pixel 10, the 10A and the 10 Pro are free.
AT&T is offering several ways to save on the S26 lineup. If you have an old phone to trade in, it can knock up to $1,100 off the Galaxy S26 Ultra and make the Galaxy S26 Plus free. You'll get the full discount for trade-ins valued at $95 or more, and even devices valued at just $35 or more will still net you $900 in credit. If you don't have a device to put toward the upgrade, opening a new line can save you up to $432 on the base Galaxy S26.
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 up to $700 off this phone when you trade in an eligible device of $130 or more and open a new line on an unlimited plan. Credits will apply over 36 months. That brings your monthly cost to about $8 per month.
You could also get up to $800 off if you break your current contract and switch to AT&T. There's an online-only offer as well, which gets you $200 off when you open a new line.
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 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.
