A smartphone can be a significant expense, particularly if you’re eyeing a high-end model like the iPhone 15 Pro Max or Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, but there are ways to reduce the cost.
This might involve waiting for the ideal time to buy, trading in your old phone, considering a different handset than originally planned, or other tactics.
Here are five tips to save money when purchasing a phone.
- Wait for major sales
Many smartphones are often available at discounted prices during sales events, with the two most prominent being Black Friday and Amazon Prime Day.
Black Friday 2024 is scheduled for November 29, and the next Amazon Prime Day will occur sometime in July — though to maximize the benefits, you’ll need to be an Amazon Prime member.
While many phones will be on sale at a discount during these events, not every model will be included, so it’s wise to consider alternative phones you might want instead of your first choice to have multiple options.
You can also review what devices were discounted during previous Black Fridays and Amazon Prime Days to predict if your preferred handset will be on sale this year.
For example, the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra was heavily discounted on Black Friday 2023, so the Galaxy S24 Ultra might be on sale during Black Friday 2024. Check out our Black Friday phone deals page and our Prime Day phone deals on Amazon for some of last year’s discounts.
- Compare prices
If you don’t want to wait for a sale, it’s still worth shopping around, as different stores or carriers may offer varying prices for the same phone. Some might have deals outside of the main sales periods, so keep an eye out for those as well.
To quickly find the best options available, you can visit our best phone deals, best iPhone deals, and best Samsung phone deals articles.
Additionally, you can use tools like Camel Camel Camel to check Amazon price history, which can indicate if prices are likely to drop, and set price drop alerts.
- Trade in your old device
An easy way to offset the cost of a new smartphone is to trade in your old device.
Many carriers offer trade-in programs, sometimes with special deals where you’ll get more credit for your old device.
If you’re buying from a brand or carrier that doesn’t offer trade-ins, other companies will still give you money for your old phone. Amazon and Apple, for instance, offer trade-ins, and there are companies specializing in this.
In the US, companies like GadgetGone and igotoffer are options, while in the UK, you have Mazuma Mobile and Music Magpie. Alternatively, you could sell your phone on eBay. Just ensure you factory reset your phone beforehand.
- Purchase a pre-owned phone
Just as you can sell your old phone to save on a new handset, you can also buy someone else’s old phone at a lower cost.
While you could buy a pre-owned device on eBay, it’s generally safer to buy a professionally checked and refurbished phone. These can be found on Amazon or specialist sites like Back Market in the UK.
Refurbished phones are usually fully checked and come with a warranty. They often look almost new, though the selling site will likely detail any issues with the product.
Buying a used or refurbished phone can be much cheaper than a new one, even when the device is in near-new condition. Just read the description and view photos carefully to understand the phone’s condition.
When you receive it, perform your own checks, particularly on the battery health, cameras, microphone, and speakers. Inspect the screen for dead pixels or other issues. If you notice any unlisted problems, you should return it for a refund.
- Opt for an older model
You might not want to buy a second-hand phone, but a new, older model is worth considering. For example, instead of the iPhone 15, you could buy the iPhone 14.
Not much changes in a phone in just one year, so you won’t necessarily miss out by choosing the previous model — or even one that’s two years old, but you’ll likely save a lot of money.
If you buy an iPhone or the latest Samsung or Google phones, you’ll also receive software updates for many years (typically around five years for iPhones and seven for the latest Samsung Galaxy and Pixel models). So, if the model you’re considering is supported for those extended update periods, it will remain relevant even if it’s not the latest version.