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November 01, 2022
5 min read
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Looking to save some major cash this fall on a new cell phone plan? Or a new iPhone or Android device? We've rounded up this month's best cheap phones and cell phone plans so you can score an incredible deal.
AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile currently offer great deals on the newest iPhones and Samsung Galaxy for new customers who switch or trade-in eligible devices. Smaller carriers like Xfinity Mobile, Mint Mobile, and Boost Mobile are offering deals on new devices as well as discounted, or free months of wireless service when you sign up for a new plan.
Read on to learn more about the latest cell phone deals.
Best cell phone deals of 2022
- : Get a free Google Pixel 6a with a 2-year term contract
- : Save up to $800 on eligible smartpohones
- : Save up to $1,000 on the Samsung Galaxy S22 when you sign up for Magenta MAX
- : Get the Google Pixel 7 Pro with eligible trade-ins and qualifying 5G Unlimited plans
- : Get 3 months of free service on a 3-month plan
- : Get the first 3 months of unlimited talk and text for only $5/mo
The best baller, mid-range, and budget smartphones on major carriers
Looking for a little one-on-one guidance for choosing a smartphone? Check out this video from our smartphone guru Tshaka for some pro shopping tips.
Best Xfinity Mobile cell phone deal: Get the Google Pixel 6a for free
Xfinity Mobile is offering new customers a free Google Pixel 6a
Pros
- Get a free Google Pixel 6a
- Uses Verizon's great network
Cons
- Must be a new customer, line activation, or qualifying device upgrade
- Credits applied over 24 months
Xfinity Mobile has a few great deals going on right now for new customers. (Remember, Xfinity Mobile is available only to existing Xfinity home internet subscribers.)
The deal we're highlighting is a free Google Pixel 6a when you add a new line, a new customer, or upgrade your device.
If you're not a huge Google Pixel fan, you can also get a $100 prepaid card when you bring your own phone to Xfinity Mobile.
Best AT&T cell phone deal: Save up to $800 on eligible smartphones
You could buy a new Xbox Series X with all the money you save
Pros
- Up to $800 in credits with a phone trade-in value of $130 or more
- Up to $350 in credits with a phone trade-in value of $35–$129
Cons
- Discount applied over term of installment agreement
- If you cancel, your credits will stop and you'll have to pay the remaining balance
You can get up to $800 off the iPhone 14 Pro when you trade-in an eligible smartphone on a qualifying monthly installment agreement through AT&T .
AT&T also offers up to $800 off the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip4, or Z Fold4 when you trade-in an eligible Galaxy phone. This offer is valid for the rest of the year.
Best T-Mobile cell phone deal: Save up to $800 on the Samsung Galaxy S22 when you add a new line on Magenta MAX
We’re loving this Samsung Galaxy deal from T-Mobile
Pros
- Save up to $800 on the Samsung Galaxy S22
- Get great service
Cons
- Must add a new eligible line
Save up to $800 on a brand new Samsung Galaxy S22 when you sign up for a monthly installment on a Magneta MAX T-Mobile line. Then go ahead and enjoy T-Mobile's super-fast data speeds in style.
If you're interested in an Apple Watch SE, with T-Mobile you can buy one, get one 50% off Credits will be applied over a 24 month period.
Plus, T-Mobile just rolled out a new concept called "Forever Upgrade," meaning that your new phone's value will be locked in at $800. You can upgrade to the latest phone every two years from here on out, maintaining that $800 value.
Best Verizon cell phone deal: Get the Google Pixel 7 Pro with eligible trade-ins and qualifying 5G Unlimited plans, plus $200 after you switch
Save some serious money on the Google PIxel 7 Pro
Pros
- Get the Google PIxel 7 Pro when you trade in your old or damaged phone
- Enjoy Verizon's amazing coverage
- Save $200
Cons
- Requires a new line
- Must trade-in eligible device
- Promo credits applied over 36 months
Save up to $200 and get the new Google Pixel 7 Pro through Verizon Wireless when you trade-in an eligible device and add a new line. Verizon is also offering customers a $200 VZ gift card and up to 1 full year of AMC+ on select Unlimited plans.
Interested in a Samsung Galaxy instead? If you're a new customer, you can switch to Verizon and trade-in an eligible device and get the new Samsung Galaxy Z Flip4 for free.
Best Mint Mobile deal: Get 3 months of free service on any 3-month plan
Get an extra 3 months of free cell phone service from Mint Mobile when you sign up for a 3-month plan
Pros
- Get 3 months of service free
- Enjoy cheap unlimited data
Cons
- Must sign up for a 3-month plan
Mint Mobile is already known for offering incredibly cheap cell phone plans. But you know what’s even cheaper than cheap? Free.
When you sign up for 3 months of service, Mint will throw in an extra 3 months of service without charge. Nothing like the peace of mind that comes with taking care of your cell phone bill for half the year.
Best Boost Mobile phone deal: Get the first 3 months of unlimited talk and text for only $5/mo
Boost Mobile is offering up to 66% in savings on the first 3 months of service for new customers
Pros
- 5GB of 5G and 4G for just $5/mo.
- Get Boost’s unlimited talk and text plan
Cons
- Offer only valid for new customers
Boost Mobile offers powerful and affordable data plans on T-Mobile’s super-fast network. The carrier is offering up to 3 months of service for only $5/mo. You'll spend only $15 for 3 full months of unlimited talk and text.
If you're looking for a discounted device, Boost Mobile also offers up to $300 off an iPhone 11 or iPhone SE 2nd Generation. You can also get up to $150 off the Samsung Galaxy A32 5G or the Galaxy A13 5G.
Tips and tricks for finding the best cell phone deals
This is how to find cell phone deals like a pro
Here’s the golden rule of buying a new phone: never pay full price. There’s almost always a way to get the device you want with a discount, a BOGO deal, or some other promotional offer. Here’s what to look for when you’re shopping.
See if your carrier offers the latest phones for existing customers
Last year AT&T announced that it would start giving its existing customers some of the very same phone deals that it offers to new customers. Since then the other two major carriers—T-Mobile and Verizon—have followed suit.
Be sure to check your current carrier’s deals before running to a new company. It can help to actually call (so old fashioned) and tell a representative what you’re looking for (especially if you say you’re thinking of changing carriers!).
Look for refer-a-friend programs
You like your friends (most of the time) and you like saving money (all of the time), so why not put the two together? Many carriers—like Mint, Visible, and AT&T—will give you an account credit when you refer a friend.
While these account credits aren’t exactly phone deals, they do cut your monthly bill. Since many phones are bought on installments that you pay with your monthly bill, it’s basically the same thing.
Look for trade-in programs
Verizon is usually running some kind of incredible trade-in deal that will give you $700+ off your new device when you give up your old one. While not every carrier offers that kind of cash, most do have some sort of trade-in policy.
Remember, if you’re trading in an iPhone 6 with a busted screen, it’s going to be worth a lot less than a Samsung Galaxy S20+ that’s just a few years old.
Consider switching carriers to get the new customer treatment
We talked about how some carriers are beginning to offer deals to existing customers. But this is the exception to the rule. In most cases, switching to a new carrier opens up a whole new world of phone deals.
Companies often save their best deals—like iPhone BOGO offers—for those who sign up for an unlimited data plan. Besides, switching to the right company can save you money and give you more data (depending on what plan you’re on now).
Factor free streaming subscriptions and other perks into the total savings
Cell phone companies like to throw in perks to get you to sign up for their plans. Some perks are boring, like 500 MB free data when you travel south of the border. But there are other perks that are, to be honest, freakin’ awesome.
AT&T will give you a free HBO Max subscription on certain plans. T-Mobile will hook you up with a Netflix plan. And Verizon plans often give you Disney+, Hulu, and other subscriptions! These may not be directly related to your phone purchase, but they sweeten the deal for sure.
FAQ: cell phone plans and deals
Welcome to the FAQ section, where we answer all of your burning questions about love, life, and cell phones. Well, mostly about cell phones actually.
When is the best time to look for cell phone deals?
It depends on what you want. It’s well known in the industry that Apple tends to unveil its new devices in September of each year, while Samsung usually sticks to a January release date. So, if you want a new iPhone or Galaxy phone, then those will be the times you’ll see a flurry of deals on new models.
You’ll also see a good amount of deals landing around Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and other holidays.
If you’re not interested in waiting for the right deal to land in your lap, then you can take the initiative by switching to a new carrier or adding a new line to your plan (to make it a family plan). Since pretty much every company has done away with restrictive contracts, it doesn’t really matter when you switch.
Should I switch to a different cell phone carrier to get a good deal on a cell phone?
The short answer is yes, unless you’re really happy with your current carrier.
Not only are the best deals usually saved for new customers, but many companies will also give you other incentives to “break up” with your current provider. We've put the top 3 wireless providers to the test. Check out our reviews to see how Verizon, T-Mobile, and AT&T stack up against each other. For example, T-Mobile will pay up to $650 for you to pay off your phone or phone bill with your old carrier when you switch over. AT&T and Verizon will also provide steep discounts to switch over.
What are the best upgrade cell phone deals?
There is some incentive for folks to stay with their existing carrier. Most companies will offer upgrade deals every year or two. These deals can help you keep up with the latest models from Apple, Samsung, or Google, but they might not be as substantial as the deals for brand new customers.
If you think you should be eligible for an upgrade, give your carrier a call.
What are the best refer-a-friend cell phone deals?
Mint Mobile has one of the best referral deals around. You can get up to $240 of credit when you refer up to five friends. That’s enough credit to get you a full year on Mint’s 10 GB plan! Plus, each friend that you refer will get a $15 credit for themselves. Everyone wins.
Most companies have a referral program. So, if you’ve got friends looking for a new phone plan, be sure to ask your current carrier about their referral deals. You may be able to score some credit for a new phone or to help pay your bill.
What cell phone carrier is offering free phones?
Most carriers change up the deals they offer year-round. The deals can vary, from heavily discounted devices to completely free devices. Currently, Metro by T-Mobile is offering a list of free 5G phones, including the Samsung A13 5G, moto g 5G, REVVL 6 5G, TCL 30 XE 5G, and the REVVL6 PRO 5G. This offer is while supplies last and only offered in participating stores.
Most major wireless carriers like AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile almost always offer the base model of the latest iPhone, Google, and Android devices with a trade-in program, so you can always take advantage of one of these deals year-round if you have an old device to trade.
What are the best smartphones to get in 2022?
There are several contenders for the best smartphone and brands on the market in 2022. But after a lot of research and analysis on various devices from Apple to Samsung, here are some of our favorites.
- Best overall performance: The Samsung Galaxy S20 quite simply has everything. A good camera, a lightning-fast processor, a beautiful display, 5G capability, and pretty much everything else you could want. Earlier this year Samsung also released the S22+, which has all the same features but with an even better display, performance, battery life, and camera.
- Best overall value: If you want a phone that balances incredible performance with a reasonable price, the iPhone 12 is the way to go. You’ll get Apple's beautiful design and solid reliability for quite cheaper than some of the companies' other models. The iPhone 13 is also a good way to go. For less than $800, you can get all that of the iPhone 12, but just with an even more powerful processor.
- Best for budget: Google has snuck into the cell phone market in recent years with some phones that rival the performance of Apple and Samsung but cost half as much. The Google Pixel 5 is no different. You can get these surprisingly powerful phones for between $400-$700 depending on the model.
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