The 34 best early Black Friday phone deals: iPhone 15, Pixel 8, Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5

• Current price: $399
• Original price: $599

The Samsung Galaxy S23 FE is one of the more confusing phone releases this year, with it being announced the night before Google’s Pixel 8 event — and at a price ($599) that slotted right between the Galaxy A54 and S23 models. To no surprise, this is the “just works” phone, with its capabilities towing the line between flagship and mid-range.

That makes it a killer deal at $200 off. For the new low price of $399, you’re getting a brilliant 6.4-inch AMOLED display, a reliable camera system, and a battery that should last you well into Day 2.

Review: You should buy Samsung’s most confusing phone this year for these reasons

• Current price: $699
• Original price: $999

Motorola came out this summer swinging, with a duet of foldable phones that, from ZDNET’s testing, proved to be worthy competitors to the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip. The more premium of the two Motos, the Razr Plus, features a useful 3.6-inch external display, a reliable dual-camera system, and an industry-first dust resistance rating. Altogether, it’s one of the best clamshell-style foldable phones on the market right now.

Best Buy currently has the Motorola Razr Plus discounted down to $699, its lowest price ever, making it a fantastic pick-up for anyone who wants a fashionable smartphone with flagship features.

Review: Motorola Razr Plus (2023): One of the best flipping foldables right now

• Current price: Free
• Original price: $1,000

Carrier deals are often too good to be true, and that’s sort of the case with this iPhone one at AT&T. Right now, when you trade in a qualifying device (anything that’s valued over $230), enroll in an installment agreement and are part of an eligible Unlimited voice and data plan, AT&T will refund you $1,000 over the course of ownership — basically covering the cost of the iPhone.

Obviously, there are several prerequisites here, and not everyone will qualify for them all, but if you do and are open to a 2-3 year commitment, then it’s a viable (and cost-effective) option.
Review: iPhone 15 Pro: Coming from iPhone 12 Pro or earlier? This upgrade will wow you

• Current price: $1,299
• Original price: $1,799

Foldable phones have taken off in 2023, and one of the most refined options, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5, is on sale for a record-low price of $1,299. That’s a $500 discount on what is one of the top phone-to-tablet devices on the market and puts it in arms reach of standard flagship smartphones.

All three color options are on sale, and you’ll save just as much if you opt for the 512GB variant.

Review: Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5: Three upgrades that make a notable difference

• Current price: $149
• Original price: $300

The OnePlus Nord N30 5G is one of the rare budget phones that features an AMOLED display, which makes all types of visuals pop on screen. Other key features include a 5,000mAh battery that supports 33W fast charging, a sleek-feeling, matte-textured back cover, and 6GB of RAM to help manage more strenuous tasks.

During Black Friday, you can buy a device for just $149 when you activate it at Best Buy, making it a killer deal for budget shoppers. It’s also unlocked for most major U.S. carriers, including T-Mobile and AT&T.

Review: 3 reasons why I prefer this $300 Android over Google’s Pixel 6a

The official date for Black Friday 2023 is November 24, 2023, the day after Thanksgiving.

However, as has been the case the past few years, manufacturers are offering the best holiday discounts weeks, if not days, in advance.

ZDNET only writes about deals we want to buy — devices and products we desire, need, or would recommend. Our experts looked for deals that were at least 20% off (or are hardly ever on sale), using established price comparison tools and trackers to determine whether the deal is actually on sale and how frequently it drops. 

We also looked over customer reviews to find out what matters to real people who already own and use the deals we’re recommending. Our recommendations may also be based on our own testing — in addition to extensive research and comparison shopping. The goal is to deliver the most accurate advice to help you shop smarter. 

Depending on if you’re on Team Android or Team iPhone, the answer for the best phone overall will vary. For those in the former group, the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra is the best of the best, offering just about everything that a smartphone can — from a quad-camera setup to reverse wireless charging to a built-in stylus.

For iPhone users, the iPhone 15 Pro Max is king, with the most capable camera system of all Apple handsets, reliable battery life, and a new Titanium build that’s both slimmer and lighter.

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