Walmart's Black Friday Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 deals have landed today with a whopping $500 gift card up for grabs to those who pick up either a device on the AT&T or Verizon network. 

And yes, before you ask - you can indeed stack this on top of a trade-in rebate, which currently stands at a maximum saving of up to $1,000. That means, potentially, you're looking at a free device here plus plenty of pocket money on the side to spend Walmart this holiday season.

In terms of sheer savings, this is easily one of the best Black Friday Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 deals we've seen so far, alongside Samsung's $100 discount and free pair of Galaxy Buds 2. For carrier value, the Walmart deal is definitely better, but Samsung's offer is also a good choice if you're looking for an unlocked device especially. Walmart will of course unlock your device eventually but you'll have to sign up to a pricey unlimited data plan at either Verizon or AT&T first to be eligible for the above gift card promotion.

Either way, you'll have a fantastic device being delivered to your door with either of these deals. The Galaxy Z Flip 3 is definitely a great choice if you're looking for something compact and powerful, but also fairly reasonably priced. It's much cheaper than the bigger Fold 3 but still rocking that Snapdragon 888 chip inside as well as a very refined design for a foldable. It's not for everyone, but it's definitely worth considering if you like the idea of a clamshell form factor.

Outside the US? See more of today's best Samsung Galaxy deals in your region below. 

Black Friday Galaxy Z Flip 3 deal at Walmart

• See more: see all of today's Black Friday deals at Walmart

More great Galaxy Z Flip 3 deals today

• See more: check out Samsung's Black Friday deals on Galaxy devices

And, if you're looking for the latest early-bird promotions on other devices, we've got plenty more to check out on our main Black Friday phone deals page. Over there you'll find great prices on Google Pixels, iPhones, and even Galaxy Z foldable.

Looking for Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra deals this Black Friday? Head on over to the Samsung store to pick up a device for just $999.99 (was $1,199) and score an additional $50 of Samsung Store credit on the house.

If you're interested, this is your chance to beat the crowds - TechRadar readers are among the lucky few to get early access to this year's Samsung Black Friday deals. You don't have long though, exclusive access expires on Friday 19, after which this price will be available to all.

Exclusivity aside, this absolutely stunning Android flagship is also on backorder until December 3rd in all colors right now. In short, it's probably a good idea to snap up this early Black Friday deal before those wait times get even longer.

Now, it's worth noting that this isn't technically the cheapest price we've ever seen for unlocked Galaxy S21 Ultra deals. We did see it go for $899 on one very brief occasion at Amazon in a flash sale back in September. We haven't seen that price since though, and this one's almost as cheap.

Factoring in the free $50 Samsung Store credit here (great for accessories) you're just $50 off the record low so it's easily one of the better Black Friday phone deals out there right now.

There are actually a few more Samsung Black Friday deals that are worth checking out right now - not least the same promotion on the also-great Samsung Galaxy S21 and Galaxy S21 Plus. If you're interested in more price cuts and freebies, you'll find a quick roundup at the bottom of the page.

Outside the US? Check out today's best Samsung Galaxy deals in your region just below.

Black Friday Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra deals

• See more: check out all of Samsung's early Black Friday deals

More exclusive early Samsung Black Friday deals

• Samsung Galaxy S21: $799.99 $699.99, plus $50 Samsung Store credit
• Samsung Galaxy S21 Plus: $999.99 $849.99, plus $50 Samsung Store credit
• Galaxy Fold 3: $1799 $1549, plus free Galaxy Buds 2 and wireless charger
• Galaxy Flip 3: $999 $899, plus free Galaxy Buds 2 and wireless charger
• Galaxy Note 20 Ultra: $1,199 $1099, plus free Samsung Chromebook 4
• Galaxy Watch 4: $249 $199 at Samsung (lowest ever price)

Mint Mobile's Black Friday sale has now started and this fantastic prepaid carrier is now offering new customers three months of service for free when they purchase a three-month plan. 

Yep, that's any three-month Mint Mobile plan - ranging from the super-cheap 4GB $15 per month plan to the unlimited data plan for $30 per month. Simply put, you're getting a whole six months of service here for the price of three - a very good deal that makes these fantastic prepaid plans even better in our books.

Mint Mobile offers some of our favorite cheap cell phone plans right now so it's an easy recommendation from us. All plans have really generous helpings of data for the money, unlimited talk and text, and 5G data speeds where applicable. The unlimited data plan is also really competitively priced too, especially if you're a single-line user looking to save some cash.

Mint Mobile Black Friday deal

Now, it's worth noting that under normal circumstances Mint Mobile plans operate under a unique 'buy-in-bulk' payment method. While this won't affect you immediately if you go for the Mint Mobile Black Friday deal above, after your promotional time is up you'll need to commit to a longer period of service (a year) if you want to secure the lowest rates possible. You still won't have to sign a contract but you will have to pay upfront - so bear that in mind before you jump in!

More Black Friday Mint Mobile deals

Boost Mobile's Black Friday promotion has just started and it's offering a $9 price cut plus free shipping on its GSM kit - a nice little bonus if you're looking for a discount on one of the best prepaid plans on the market right now ahead of Black Friday 2021.

Since the postage and packaging fees are $4.99 on this kit, you're essentially getting a $15 price cut as a new customer. And, considering this carrier offers prepaid plans from $15 per month, you could view this as getting the first month on the house if you go for the basic 2GB/mo plan. 

All of Boost Mobile's plans include unlimited talk and text, as well as 5G speeds where applicable so you don't need to worry about being stuck in the slow lane with these prepaid plans. As always with most prepaid plans there are also no lengthy contracts to sign up to either - you're free to come and go as you wish without any big commitments.

Note, Boost Mobile runs on the T-Mobile network and this promo is 'bring your own phone' only. You'll need a GSM-compatible unlocked phone to be able to use the SIM in the kit. If you're coming over from another network (Verizon or a subsidiary, in particular) you'll want to check if your device is compatible before you jump in with this Black Friday promo.

Boost Mobile Black Friday sale

If you're looking for more excellent options for saving some hard-earned cash on your phone bill, check out our round-up of this month's best cheap cell phone plans. Alternatively, expand your search with fantastic family and unlimited options with our top-down guide to the best cell phone plans.

Samsung's Black Friday deals are offering the stunning Galaxy Note 20 Ultra for just $1099 (was $1,199) today with a free Samsung Chromebook 4 being thrown in for good measure.

Yep - that's a freebie worth $229 by itself and even better still - TechRadar readers are among the lucky few to get early access to this promotion. 

The Galaxy Chromebook 4 is one of the company's entry-level machines but you can't knock this promotion when it comes to added value - it's easily one of the better Black Friday deals out there considering how popular these devices are at Walmart and other leading retailers.

And, if you're looking for a larger premium device, you'll be hard-pressed to find a better option than the stunning Galaxy Note 20 Ultra. Even though the Fold 3 may have stolen its thunder as the true 'flagship' device from the company, it's still the best phablet you can buy for 2021 if you're not into foldables. Featuring an incredibly lavish 6.9-inch curved AMOLED display, 108MP main camera, and great S-Pen support, it's still the choice of many serious Android users worldwide.

Note - due to the popularity of the Note 20 Ultra, all devices are currently on backorder until December 3rd. TechRadar readers can, however, score this early Samsung Black Friday deal until November 19th. We'd definitely recommend getting an order in sooner rather than later if you're interested - those backorder queues will only get longer if this promotion is popular.

Outside the US? See today's best Samsung Galaxy deals in your region just below.

Free Chromebook with a Samsung Galaxy Note 20

More exclusive early Samsung Black Friday deals

• Galaxy S21: $799 $699, plus $50 Samsung Store credit
• Galaxy S21 Plus: $999 $849, plus $50 Samsung Store credit
• Galaxy S21 Ultra: $1,199 $999, plus $50 Samsung Store credit
• Galaxy Fold 3: $1799 $1549, plus free Galaxy Buds 2 and wireless charger
• Galaxy Flip 3: $999 $899, plus free Galaxy Buds 2 and wireless charger
• Galaxy Watch 4: $249 $199 at Samsung (lowest ever price)

Looking for other devices? We've rounded up all the best promising early promotions on our main Black Friday phone deals page. Over there you'll find the latest on the Galaxy S21 series, Google Pixel, and even Apple iPhones.

We're calling it now - this is your last chance to get exclusive early access to the Samsung Black Friday deals this week - including a $250 price cut and free Galaxy Buds 2 on the stunning Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3. 

Also available on the Galaxy Z Flip 3 (retailing for $899, was $999), TechRadar readers are among the select few to get early access to this week's early Samsung Black Friday deals - access that ends on Friday (November 19th).

While not a huge biggie (these deals will probably still be there when early access ends), this is a prime opportunity to beat the crowds and snag a device before those lengthy backorder queues shoot up.

Alongside your free pair of Galaxy Buds 2 (worth $109 by themselves), Samsung is also throwing in a free wireless charger too - a nice little bonus that's always useful to have. Factoring in these freebies and price cuts, these are easily the best Black Friday deals on the Fold 3 and Flip 3 so far; perhaps on any phone for that matter.

If you're looking for something a little cheaper (very understandable), then this week's early Samsung Black Friday deals also include some great price cuts and freebies on the Galaxy S21 series and even the latest Galaxy Watch 4. If you're interested, we've rounded up a few more of these promotions at the bottom of the page, alongside today's best prices on Samsung Galaxy devices for those readers visiting outside the US.

Samsung Black Friday: Galaxy Z Fold 3 and Flip 3

More exclusive early Samsung Black Friday deals

• Galaxy S21: $799 $699, plus $50 Samsung Store credit
• Galaxy S21 Plus: $999 $849, plus $50 Samsung Store credit
• Galaxy S21 Ultra: $1,199 $999, plus $50 Samsung Store credit
• Galaxy Note 20 Ultra: $1,199 $1099, plus free Samsung Chromebook 4
• Galaxy Watch 4: $249 $199 at Samsung (lowest ever price)

Looking for carrier options? Perhaps a Google Pixel 6 is more your thing. If so, head on over to our main Black Friday phone deals page to see plenty more early sales and predictions.

Samsung's Black Friday phone deals are landing early for TechRadar readers this week with exclusive price cuts of up to $200 on the Samsung Galaxy S21, Galaxy S21 Plus, and Galaxy S21 Ultra.

Retailing for $699 (was $799), $849 (was $999), and $999 (was $1,1099) respectively, the retailer is also throwing in $50 of Samsung Store credit with each purchase - a great little freebie that's useful for accessories.

As one of the better Black Friday deals out there for phone fans, this is a great chance to pick up your flagship of choice at a significant discount. We've only seen these devices go for $50 cheaper before so it's a match for the lowest price ever if you factor in your free Samsung Store credit. 

Plus, if you're looking to save even more you can trade in an old device for an additional saving of up to $550. This applies to both unlocked and carrier devices and you can even hand over old phones with cracked screens and still get a rebate.

As previously stated, TechRadar readers are among the select few to get exclusive early access to these Samsung Black Friday deals - access that ends on November 19th. While that's still plenty of time to jump the queue and get your order in, we'd recommend acting fairly quickly if you're interested. We're already seeing some backorder queues on certain models so it's likely you could be waiting a while for delivery if this promotion is popular (hint: it probably will be).

Outside the US? See the best Samsung Galaxy deals in your region just below.

Black Friday Samsung Galaxy S21 deals

More exclusive early Samsung Black Friday deals

• Galaxy Fold 3: $1799 $1549, plus free Galaxy Buds 2 and wireless charger
• Galaxy Flip 3: $999 $899, plus free Galaxy Buds 2 and wireless charger
• Galaxy Note 20 Ultra: $1,199 $1099, plus free Samsung Chromebook 4
• Galaxy Watch 4: $249 $199 at Samsung (lowest ever price)

And, if you're looking for the latest early-bird promotions on other devices, we've got plenty more to check out on our main Black Friday phone deals page. Over there you'll find great prices on Google Pixels, iPhones, and even Galaxy Z foldable.

Looking for other devices? We've rounded up all the best promising early promotions on our main Black Friday phone deals page. Over there you'll find the latest on the Galaxy S21 series, Google Pixel, and even Apple iPhones.

Looking for other devices? We've rounded up all the best promising early promotions on our main Black Friday phone deals page. Over there you'll find the latest on the Galaxy S21 series, Google Pixel, and even Apple iPhones.

Looking for other devices? We've rounded up all the best promising early promotions on our main Black Friday phone deals page. Over there you'll find the latest on the Galaxy S21 series, Google Pixel, and even Apple iPhones.

While the Google Pixel 6 may be all the rage right now, there's one other Android flagship that's absolutely worth your attention this November - the OnePlus 9 and its bigger OnePlus 9 Pro brother.

While more popular devices like the iPhone 13 and Pixel 6 have seen back-orders, lengthy delivery wait times, and empty store shelves, the OnePlus 9 and 9 Pro have seemingly snuck under the radar - just in time for this year's upcoming Black Friday deals no less.

And that's surprising to us. Not only are both of these devices absolutely stellar flagships for 2021, but they're now both much, much cheaper thanks to a post-Pixel 6 price cut from leading online retailers. Amazon is currently retailing the standard 9 for $599 and the Pro for $799 - the lowest prices yet and an absolute steal for the Pro model in particular. With OnePlus itself also throwing in a free pair of OnePlus Buds Pro on unlocked devices, it's looking like these devices are the perfect last-minute buy for those holding out for a Black Friday phone deal.

The back-order blues

One glance at the store pages of popular carriers in the US will tell you one thing - many of the top flagship devices from Apple, Google, and Samsung are in high demand right now. In fact, it's not uncommon to see delivery wait times stretching all the way back to late December in some cases - take the iPhone 13 Pro Max at Verizon as a rather extreme example.

And, you can't even buy an unlocked Google Pixel 6 Pro on some color and storage variants right now. If you head on over to the main Google Store US page, you'll instead see a sign-up link to 'register your interest.' It doesn't take much to put two and two together here - there's probably not going to be any decent Black Friday phone deals on these models if there's literally no stock to sell.

The OnePlus 9 - a fantastic Android device

By comparison, both the excellent OnePlus 9 and OnePlus 9 Pro are in stock at a number of retailers, freshly discounted, and seemingly ready to party this Black Friday.

While it's too early to definitively say whether this week's OnePlus 9 discounts are as low as they'll go over Black Friday, we can definitely recommend both these devices as a worthy alternative to both the Google Pixel 6 and iPhone 13.

Receiving 4.5 stars out of 5 in our review, the headline features of the standard OnePlus 9 are very much its impressive components for the price. For a relatively low sum, it's featuring an exceptionally powerful Snapdragon 888 processor, a great Hasselblad co-designed camera, and a vibrant AMOLED display capable of 120Hz - all absolutely top-shelf components.

We were just as impressed with the OnePlus 9 Pro here at TechRadar. It's pricier for sure, but the 6.7-inch QHD screen is an absolute highlight and its metal frame gives it a much more premium feel. It's got the same Snapdragon 888 chip inside, giving plenty of grunts, but it's also got an extra helping of RAM - 12GB in this case versus the standard 9's 8GB. 

Versus the Google Pixel 6 and iPhone 13

So, the two OnePlus devices are impressive on paper, but how do they actually stack up against the best from Apple or Google? 

Firstly, let's compare to the Google Pixel 6, the One Plus 9's main Android rival and the device currently making the most waves. 

With the Pixel 6, you'll get that lavish new design, Google's own Tensor chip, superb smart assistant integration, and the camera tech that Google devices are known for. The standard device is also very aggressively priced at $599 but only features a 90Hz display. To upgrade the refresh rate, score yourself 12GB of RAM, and get a few camera improvements you'll have to pony up the extra for that Google 6 Pro - retailing at $899 currently.

The Apple iPhone 13 is a harder comparison to make; the expansive Apple ecosystem, in particular, is a huge selling point and one that Apple users will be at pains to abandon. The stunning Apple A15 Bionic in the iPhone 13 series is also a real highlight too, offering absolutely top-flight performance right now. As expected, the camera is also fantastic and superbly easy to use in the iPhone, although the 90Hz display in the standard 13 again can't match the 120Hz in the OnePlus 9. 

Bottom line

Don't get us wrong - we also love the Google Pixel 6 and iPhone 13 here at TechRadar. All the devices we've covered in this article are absolutely fantastic and more than enough to keep most users happy. However, the question is whether they will actually be available with decent deals over Black Friday and be available for delivery this side of 2022.

It seems unlikely, which makes the OnePlus 9 - formally the red-headed stepchild of the 2021 flagships - suddenly seem like a real competitor. As we've already highlighted, both the OnePlus 9 and 9 Pro feature an absolutely fantastic lineup of specs and well-thought-out designs that should appeal to most. And, crucially, being the lesser-known brand amongst its competitors means these devices are much better stocked and likely to receive big deals this Black Friday. In short, this could be the perfect time to jump ship to OnePlus - especially if you're looking to save some cash this November. 

One of the best Google Pixel 6 deals on the market right now can be found over at Visible - a prepaid carrier that is offering new customers a free $200 gift card and a pair of Google Pixel Buds A-Series with every device purchase.

Considering these Buds are worth $99 by themselves you're looking at a maximum $300 off added value here - and that's on top of the already super-cheap unlimited prepaid plans that this carrier offers. 

You can, in fact, get an unlimited data plan for as little as $25 per month at Visible with the carrier's Party Pay feature so it's a fantastic 5G pairing for the Google Pixel if you're looking to save some cash in the long run. If you're interested in a bigger device, this Google Pixel 6 deal at Visible is also available on the Google 6 Pro.

Note, you will need to be buying your device outright here and also port your number over from another carrier here to be eligible. While it may seem a bit pricey to buy your device at full price upfront, it's a good option considering you'd normally pair a prepaid plan like Visible's with an unlocked device anyway. Plus, Visible only locks devices to its network for 60 days after purchase, so you're not tied down for a period of two years, unlike with Verizon deals or other big carriers.

Google Pixel 6 deals at Visible

• Visible - see all of this carrier's phone deals this weekend
• Read about the upcoming Black Friday and Cyber Monday events

Holding out for Black Friday? Head on over to our Google Pixel 6 Black Friday deals to see our expert predictions.

One of the best Google Pixel 6 deals on the market right now can be found over at Visible - a prepaid carrier that is offering new customers a free $200 gift card and a pair of Google Pixel Buds A-Series with every device purchase.

Considering these Buds are worth $99 by themselves you're looking at a maximum $300 off added value here - and that's on top of the already super-cheap unlimited prepaid plans that this carrier offers. 

You can, in fact, get an unlimited data plan for as little as $25 per month at Visible with the carrier's Party Pay feature so it's a fantastic 5G pairing for the Google Pixel if you're looking to save some cash in the long run. If you're interested in a bigger device, this Google Pixel 6 deal at Visible is also available on the Google 6 Pro.

Note, you will need to be buying your device outright here and also port your number over from another carrier here to be eligible. While it may seem a bit pricey to buy your device at full price upfront, it's a good option considering you'd normally pair a prepaid plan like Visible's with an unlocked device anyway. Plus, Visible only locks devices to its network for 60 days after purchase, so you're not tied down for a period of two years, unlike with Verizon deals or other big carriers.

Google Pixel 6 deals at Visible

• Visible - see all of this carrier's phone deals this weekend
• Read about the upcoming Black Friday and Cyber Monday events

Holding out for Black Friday? Head on over to our Google Pixel 6 Black Friday deals to see our expert predictions.

Verizon has just launched a limited early Black Friday flash sale this week, giving us the chance to score a free Samsung Galaxy Chromebook Go (worth $349) with a qualified Android device purchase.

You'll need to buy an Android device on a new line on any unlimited plan to be eligible. That includes the latest Google Pixel 6, Galaxy S21, Galaxy Z Fold, and, interestingly also the Motorola Razr - which is also on sale this weekend for just $10 per month with a new plan.

And we recommend pairing this one up with either the Motorola Razr or another relatively cheap device since it appears that this weekend promotion is mutually exclusive to the big trade-in rebates we're seeing with other early Black Friday deals right now.  A few excellent options include the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE and the Motorola edge 5G - both available for free right now with an unlimited plan (no trades needed).

The free Samsung Galaxy Chromebook Go included here is worth $349 by itself, so it's not a small freebie by any stretch of the imagination. It will, however, need to be bought on its own device plan (generally about $20/mo), so bear that in mind.  Also worth noting is that these Verizon Black Friday deals end Sunday, so definitely don't hesitate if you're interested. 

Verizon early Black Friday flash sale

• Verizon - see everything in this week's Black Friday flash sale

Head on over to our main Verizon deals page if you're looking for the latest on trade-in rebates, switching offers, and other great ways to save some cash. 

The Samsung Black Friday deals have come early for TechRadar readers with a set of awesome exclusive early access sales on the stunning Galaxy Z Fold 3 and Galaxy Flip 3. 

Retailing for $1549.99 (was $1949) and $899.99 (was $1149) respectively, not only can you get yourself a significant upfront discount on an unlocked device this week, but also a free pair of Galaxy Buds 2 (worth $109) and a free wireless charger too - huge freebies.

It's worth noting that both these sale prices aren't the lowest we've seen yet (we've seen Amazon go $50 lower on each device), but the free gifts add up to easily the best offer yet on these stunning foldable devices and quite possibly the best set of Black Friday deals yet for Android fans.

If you're not looking for a foldable device you can also score yourself a free Samsung Chromebook 4 with a Galaxy Note 20 for $1099.99 right now, as well as a saving of up to $200 on the Galaxy S21 series - both fine Black Friday phone deals considering how in demand these devices have been recently. 

Note, all devices mentioned can benefit from an additional trade-in rebate if you hand over an older device. We've listed out the maximum saving on each one just down below. We highly recommend you do so - not only can you get an instant saving, but the Samsung store will even take damaged devices. Plus, it's great for the environment too!

Outside the US? See the best phone deals in your region just below.

Samsung Black Friday: Galaxy Z Fold 3 and Flip 3

More Samsung Black Friday deals

• Samsung - see all of this retailer's early phone Black Friday deals

Want to see what Apple's offering this November? Check out our page on the upcoming Black Friday iPhone deals. For more suggestions this week, see our page on the best cell phone deals.

It used to be heresy to suggest buying that shiny new iPhone in October. It is, after all, almost a full month before the traditional Black Friday iPhone deals land and offer up what's supposedly the best chance all year to score a bargain.

Delivery delays, back-order backlogs, and general stock issues, however, have plagued the new flagships since launch. It's left me questioning - is it actually worth waiting until Black Friday to get an iPhone 13? 

The iPhone 13 family has had no shortage of fantastic deals already, and those backorder queues just seem to be getting longer with no signs of letting up. Maybe you should settle instead of braving a multiple month-long wait until you finally get your hands on that new upgrade.

Especially when several recent reports have suggested that Apple's starting to feel the squeeze in the global chip shortage. No one can hide from the fact - that's bad news if you don't have that iPhone 13 yet.

What normally happens

Cell phone deals in general have traditionally revolved around launch events (like this week's Google Pixel 6 deals) and big sales events like Black Friday or Cyber Monday - with the exception of the odd sale or two from the likes of Amazon or Best Buy.

It used to be the case, especially with iPhones, that lining up your upgrade with a launch window or Black Friday would be your best bet for securing a decent deal. In all truth, I expect this to be the case again when things return to normal. However, certain market factors and reports have led me to believe this year's Black Friday iPhone deals may be disrupted, or at least in shorter supply. 

The issue: chip shortages

The ongoing global chip and supply chain crisis isn't exactly breaking news - it's been widely reported on and discussed openly for several months now. In fact, it's positively old news for any who have braved the queues over the past year to attempt to secure a coveted PS5 or one of the latest graphics cards. 

Phones, so far, have been one category of tech that's largely escaped the indignity of bare shelves and backorders. That could be set to change in the following months if recent reports are anything to go by, however. 

Last week, Bloomberg broke the news that Apple is set to cut iPhone 13 production numbers by upwards of 11 percent. The company was set to manufacture 90 million handsets by the end of 2021, but according to 'people with knowledge of the matter' that figure has now been slashed by as many as 10 million. 

Apple didn't comment on the news. However, it did state earlier in the year that it would 'would face supply constraints of the iPhone and iPad during the quarter that ended in September'. It's worth noting that's the period directly before Black Friday. If demand goes up over the next month (as we'd expect), then we could be seeing some very lengthy wait times for delivery indeed. 

And, we've already seen the iPhone 13 on backorder at Verizon and many local Apple stores nationwide. The iPhone 13 Pro Max in particular is looking at an estimated delivery date of December 3rd via Verizon right now and November 26th via the official Apple store. Unless a large number of devices are somehow delivered by surprise it seems prudent to expect that delivery date to stretch out further from here onwards.

But, will I miss out on deals if I buy early?

Tough question. The short answer is yes. The long answer is, yes, but this year's Black Friday iPhone deals might not be much to shout about anyway.

Back in 2020, when the iPhone 12 was fresh off the presses, in good stock, and in high demand, carrier Black Friday deals weren't actually that great. Verizon and AT&T's maximum saving of up to $700 with a trade-in was essentially the same deal that was offered with a pre-order when these devices were first launched. 

This week's iPhone 13 deals are actually better than what was served up on the iPhone 12 last year if you're considering the overall amount of savings on offer. 

Both AT&T and Verizon, for example, are offering up to $800 off with a trade-in on the standard iPhone 13 (up to $1,000 off on the Pro), and Apple's maximum trade-in rebate of up to $790 is actually the highest we've ever seen from the retailer.

The kicker here is these deals aren't quite as good as those offered at the initial launch back in September. Existing Verizon customers, for example, could keep their line at launch and simply upgrade for free with an eligible trade-in. Right now you can only get $440 off as an upgrade.

It's hard to say whether 'big upgrade' deals will be back on the iPhone 13 over Black Friday. We hope so, but again it's doesn't seem wise to pin hopes down when the devices themselves may be in short supply.

The bottom line

If you want to be safe and get your device this side of 2022, then it's probably wise to consider beating out the crowds to secure your device by Black Friday. We would advocate at least investigating the excellent range of deals available right now, especially on the more popular 13 Pro and 13 Pro Max models. It's generally a safe bet that trade-in rebates won't get too much higher than they are right now - especially if you're picking up a device on a new line.

If you're after an iPhone 13 mini, however, then you might be able to get away with holding out until Black Friday. This device is the least popular of the four new models and seems to be the least likely to sell out over November. This one's definitely in the 'wait and see' territory and could potentially be worth holding out for. Either way, it's wise to keep an eye on those estimated delivery dates at leading retailers right now.

In case you hadn't heard already - Google Pixel 6 deals have officially landed and this weekend's brought some fantastic pre-order bonuses to consider.

The frontrunner for value is Verizon so far with an excellent combination of a nifty 'buy-one get-one free' promo and a tempting trade-in rebate of up to $700.

Now, you can only pick one, and both are eligible with unlimited data plans only, but this is a great opening offer in our eyes. There's not one, but two different ways to bag a free device here - and it gives both single and multi-line users a good option.

If you happen to be a new customer Verizon will also score you a free $500 gift card as a welcome bonus - a nice freebie that's in addition to either the 'BOGO' or trade-in rebate.

One criticism? This weekend's Verizon Google Pixel 6 deals only offer a measly $350 off for those existing customers who are looking to simply upgrade (keep their line and trade-in). That's much, much, lower than the $700 off maximum we saw on the iPhone 13 at launch. The new line bonuses, however, are just as good, if not better.

If you're looking for something a little more premium, you'll find these same excellent offers with this weekend's Verizon Google Pixel 6 Pro deals too. Take note, the 'BOGO' offer on this device will only cover $700 off since it's a pricier phone.

Outside the US? See the best Google Pixel 6 and cell phone deals in your region just below.

Verizon Google Pixel 6 deals this weekend

• See more - View all of this weekend's Verizon deals
• Read about the upcoming Black Friday deals and Cyber Monday deals

And, we've got plenty more from this carrier in our weekly roundup of the best Verizon deals. If you're interested, we've also got a guide to the upcoming Black Friday Verizon deals.

OnePlus and Amazon have responded to this week's new Google Pixel 6 deals by cutting the price on the OnePlus 9 by a whopping $130 upfront. 

The device is now just $599 (was $799) unlocked at Amazon - the lowest sum yet and a direct match for the launch price of the Google Pixel 6. In short, Android users have not just one, but two excellent mid-range flagships to consider right now.

So, which should you go for? The OnePlus 9 certainly looks impressive on paper thanks to its 120Hz screen (the Pixel only has 90Hz), Triple Lens Hasselblad-designed cameras, and super speedy 65W charging. From a sheer specs perspective, it probably has the edge on the Pixel 6, although the Pixel 6's new Tensor chip and impressive computational photography features are sure to be extremely valuable to those who love mobile photography. 

For something a little more premium, you could consider the OnePlus 9 Pro - which has also been reduced at Amazon to just $799.99 (was $1,069). The $269 price cut here is even bigger than that on the standard device. It makes this excellent flagship device a full $100 cheaper than the rival Google Pixel 6 Pro ($200 cheaper than the S21 Plus too). With a slightly better camera system, metal frame, and curved screen, the OnePlus 9 Pro is a very fine choice for a flagship device indeed.

Outside the US? See the best Android cell phone deals in your region just below.

OnePlus 9 deals at Amazon

• Amazon - see all of this retailer's unlocked cell phone deals today
• Read about the upcoming Black Friday deals and Cyber Monday deals

Looking for more options? Check out our main cell phone deals page. Also worth reading is our guide to the upcoming Black Friday phone deals.