Best Black Friday Phone Deals 2026: Awarded Picks to Watch
Black Friday 2026 (November 27) is the single best day to buy an awarded phone at a deep discount. We track historical Black Friday pricing on every MKBHD Smartphone Awards winner — here's what to expect this year and which picks to prioritize.
Updated · 6 picks · Rankings reflect MKBHD Smartphone Awards outcomes.
How we picked
Phones with strong historical Black Friday discounting and MKBHD Smartphone Awards placement. Discount estimates are based on 2024 and 2025 Black Friday pricing patterns at major retailers (Amazon, Best Buy, carriers).
- #1
Won Phone of the Year at MKBHD's 2025 Smartphone Awards. Expect $100–$200 off the $799 launch price at Amazon and major carriers. Carrier trade-in deals during Black Friday week typically push effective price to $400–$500 with new line activation.
Pros
- MKBHD's 2025 Phone of the Year
- Expected $100–$200 Black Friday discount
- Carrier deals push to $400–$500 effective
Cons
- Apple direct rarely discounts on Black Friday
- Stock can run low for popular configurations
- #2
Best Black Friday Galaxy deal — runner-up Phone of the Year
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra
Samsung · 2025 · From $1299
Runner-up Phone of the Year at MKBHD's 2025 Smartphone Awards. Samsung historically discounts the S Ultra by $200–$300 on Black Friday at Samsung.com, with additional $200–$400 trade-in bonuses. Effective price often hits $700–$900.
Pros
- Runner-up Phone of the Year 2025
- $200–$300 expected discount
- Samsung trade-in bonuses stack
Cons
- Trade-in bonuses tied to specific older devices
- Storage upgrades less discounted
- #3
Biggest discount expected — 2024 Phone of the Year
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra
Samsung · 2024 · From $1299
Won Phone of the Year at MKBHD's 2024 Smartphone Awards. With the S25 Ultra now out, expect $400–$500 Black Friday discounts on the S24 Ultra — pushing the price to $799–$899 for what was last year's top phone.
Pros
- MKBHD's 2024 Phone of the Year
- Expected $400–$500 discount
- Same camera and S Pen as S25 Ultra
Cons
- One generation behind on chipset
- Galaxy AI features lag the latest
- #4
Won Most Improved at MKBHD's 2024 Smartphone Awards. Google Store discounts the Pixel 9 Pro by $150–$250 on Black Friday; carrier deals can push effective price to $499–$599 with trade-in.
Pros
- MKBHD's 2024 Most Improved
- $150–$250 expected discount at Google Store
- Best AI features
Cons
- Google Store discounts often capped to limited stock
- Carrier deals require new line
- #5
Won Best Small Phone at MKBHD's 2024 Smartphone Awards. Already discounted to $599–$699 in 2026; expect another $100–$150 off on Black Friday at carriers and Amazon — pushing the price to $499 with trade-in.
Pros
- MKBHD's 2024 Best Small Phone
- Could hit $499 effective with trade-in
- Apple Intelligence supported
Cons
- No telephoto camera
- 60Hz display
- #6
Best Black Friday budget phone — runner-up Best Value 2024
Google Pixel 8a
Google · 2024 · From $499
Runner-up Best Value at MKBHD's 2024 awards. Google typically discounts the Pixel 8a to $349–$399 on Black Friday — best sub-$400 phone with 7-year update support.
Pros
- Runner-up Best Value 2024
- Often hits $349–$399 on Black Friday
- Seven years of OS updates
Cons
- Plastic frame
- Tensor G3 isn't fast
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Frequently Asked Questions
When are the best phone deals on Black Friday 2026?
Black Friday itself (November 27) and Cyber Monday (November 30). Most retailers start discounts the week prior, but the biggest carrier trade-in bonuses typically land on Black Friday morning.
Apple, Amazon, or carrier — where to buy a phone on Black Friday?
Carriers usually offer the biggest trade-in deals on iPhone 17 and Galaxy S25 Ultra. Amazon offers the deepest direct discounts on Pixel and last-gen flagships. Apple direct rarely discounts iPhones — go through carriers or Amazon.
Should I wait for Black Friday or buy now?
If you need a phone today, buy now — 6 months of waiting isn't worth saving $100–$200. If you can wait until November and your current phone is fine, Black Friday is the best discount window of the year.
About this list
We index every phone that won or placed in MKBHD's annual Smartphone Awards (2014–2025) and surface the strongest matches for this category. Award badges link to the full award history. We earn a commission on purchases via our retailer links — at no extra cost to you.