DealNews is reader-supported.

We may earn commissions on qualifying purchases.

Hot Deals Electronics Phones & Cell Phones

Unlocked Cell Phone Deals In August

2024
Featured Interests:

Staff Pick Phones & Cell Phones Store

Samsung · 4 hrs ago eBay · 5 hrs ago

Unlocked Samsung Unlocked Samsung
Galaxy Z Fold6 512GB… Galaxy S23 Ultra 512G…
Android Smartphone Smartphone
$700 $2,020 $710 $1,380
+ free shipping + free shipping
Details Details

Best Apple iPhone Deals

eBay · 5 hrs ago eBay · 12 hrs ago eBa

Refurb Unlocked Refurb Unlocked Re

Apple iPhone 12… Apple iPhone 15 Pr… Ap
64GB Smartphone 128GB Phone 128
$248 $800 $767 $999 $4
Details Details

Best Android Phone Deals

eBay · 1 hr ago eBay · 3 days ago Amazon

Refurb Unlocked Refurb Unlocked Unlock

Samsung Galaxy S… Samsung Galaxy S… Pixel F
5G 128GB Ultra 5G 128GB Androi
$210 $800
Smartphone $258
Phone $1,200 $1,19
Details Details

Amazon · 6 hrs ago eBay · 5 hrs ago

T-Core 10,000mAh Refurb Unlocked Apple
Ultra-Compact USB… iPhone 12 64GB…
Power Bank Smartphone
$19 $39 + free shipping $248 $800
+ free shipping
Details Details

Amazon · 6 hrs ago eBay · 12 hrs ago

G-Power 20,000mAh Refurb Unlocked Apple
Portable Power Bank iPhone 15 Pro 128GB…
Phone
$43 $90 + free shipping $767 $999 + free shipping

Details Details

New New

eBay · 1 hr ago eBay · 38 mins ago

Refurb Unlocked Refurb Unlocked Apple
Samsung Galaxy S22 5… iPhone 13 Pro 128GB…
128GB Smartphone Smartphone
$210 $800 + free shipping $480 $999
+ free shipping
Details Details

SPONSORED

Bose · 4 hrs ago Samsung · 6 days ago

Bose Refurbished Store Unlocked Samsung
Sale Galaxy Z Fold6 512GB…
Android Smartphone
Up to 55% off Up to $1,200 off w…
+ free shipping + free shipping
Details Details

New New

eBay · 1 hr ago eBay · 1 hr ago

Refurb Unlocked Apple Refurb Unlocked Apple
iPhone 14 Pro 128GB… iPhone 15 Plus 128GB…
Smartphone Smartphone
$620 $999 $670 + free shipping
+ free shipping
Details Details

Cell Phone Accessories Android Phones Appl

Visible · 3 days ago Amazon · 37 mins ago

Visible by Verizon 11,000mAh Wireless
Unlimited Plan Magnetic Power Bank

From $20/month $16 $33 + free shipping

Details Details

eBay · 4 days ago eBay · 4 days ago

Certified Refurb JBL Sony WH-1000XM5
Vibe Beam True Wirele… Wireless Bluetooth…
Headphones Noise-Canceling
$20 $38 + free shipping $281 $400 + free shipping

Details Details

eBay · 6 days ago Samsung · 2 wks ago

Certified Refurb Sony Samsung Deals
Wireless Stereo Home…
Theater Headphones
$23 $130 + free shipping Save on Galaxy ph…
+ free shipping
Details Details

SPONSORED

Boost Mobile · 3 days ago Seinxon · 1 wk ago

Boost Mobile Unlimited Seinxon Item Finder
Plans Bluetooth Tracker 4-…
Pack
From $25 $77 $119 + free shipping

Details Details

GET THE NEXT 20 DEALS

How to Shop and Save on Phones

and Cell Phones
Cell phones are a ubiquitous part of our lives. Our
cell phone are our camera, internet access, GPS,
digital organizer, and our alarm clocks.
When buying a cell phone customers are faced
with a lot of choices. Decisions need to be made
about which cell phone carrier to use, phone to
buy, type of service to get, and accessories you
need. And we're here to help you with these
decision, and help you find the best cell phone
deal.

Service Providers
You may already a cell phone carrier, or maybe
you’re considering a switch to a new carrier. Either
way, the service provider will play a large role in the
selection of phones you have to choose from as not
all cell phones are unlocked and could be tied to a
carrier or network.
The major providers, which operate their own
networks, are AT&T , T-Mobile (merged with Sprint
in April 2020), and Verizon . Other carriers are
known as Mobile Virtual Network Operators
(MVNOs), do not own the wireless infrastructure
and utilize the cell phone towers of larger carriers.
Some of these providers are:

Straight Talk
Total Wireless (part of Verizon)
Tracfone
Boost Mobile
Consumer Celluar
Google Fi
Cricket Wireless
Simple Mobile
Net10 Wireless

Is it better to go with the big carriers? That

depends. Consumer Reports surveys indicate
higher customer satisfaction with smaller providers
compared to the major ones. The smaller carriers
mostly offer prepaid plans, which have become
very similar to postpaid plans in recent years (see
the Service Plans section below). Smaller carriers
do offer a wider selection of options for various
usage needs outside of premium “unlimited
everything” service. However, during times of
congestion or peak use, customers of the major
carriers will get priority on the networks.
You’ll also want to do a coverage check before
deciding on a provider you aren’t familiar with.
Check the provider’s website, or do an internet
search for the provider name and “coverage map”
or “zip code map” to confirm your area is eligible
for service.

Service Plans
When considering a cell phone provider, you’ll need
to determine if you want a postpaid plan or a
prepaid plan. The major carriers offer both types,
while MVNOs mostly have prepaid plans.
Postpaid
On a postpaid cell phone plan service billed for
after the service is used. You receive a monthly
statement and service is continuous as long as it’s
paid. When you buy a phone from a carrier and get
set up on a postpaid plan, you’ll also get a device
payoff plans. In this model, you purchase the
phone with monthly payments over a period of 24
to 30 months. This may require a credit check or
down payment, and the phone will be locked to the
carrier until it’s paid off.
Postpaid plans are generally higher in price
compared to prepaid. The types of plans available
tend to be more limited and may even include more
options than some customers need. However,
postpaid plans can also give extra perks (such as
free streaming services). There are no worries
about running out of minutes or data during a
billing cycle, but overage charges are a possibility.
Prepaid
With a prepaid cell phone plan, service is paid for in
advance of using it. Buying a prepaid plan means
service is available for a limited amount of time,
such as 30 days. When that time is up, a refill must
be purchased — or auto-fill can be set up to
continue service. Phones are often purchased
outright instead of through monthly payment plans,
although some prepaid providers offer financing
with no fees.
Prepaid plan prices tend to be lower and don’t
require a credit check. They offer a wide selection
of plan types to meet various needs and overage
charges won’t apply, but it is possible for service to
run out during a billing cycle under some plans.
You’ll have more flexibility in switching providers
without long postpaid monthly installment plans,
although this benefit won’t apply if the phone is
financed. Even prepaid phones purchased in full
can be locked for up to a year after activation.

Choosing a Phone
Besides choosing the service provider and plan
type, what’s left is the phone itself. There are
various features to consider, outlined below.
Unlocked vs. Locked
Unlocked cell phones will work with any compatible
cell phone carrier. Some phones will only work on
GSM or CDMA networks, while others can work on
both. Before purchasing, you’ll need to verify the
phone will work with the carrier you intend to use.
Buying an unlocked phone typically means paying
for the phone outright, which is a higher initial
expense, but allows for more flexibility in changing
providers.
A locked cell phone is restricted to a particular
carrier and can’t be activated with other providers.
If you see a model listed for a carrier while
shopping, you would only buy it if you plan to use
that provider. A locked phone may come with
options to make monthly payments or get a
discount, which can be easier to fit in your budget.
However, it will also require using service from that
carrier until the phone is paid for.
It’s possible to unlock a phone once you’ve paid off
an installment agreement. Or, if you paid in full from
a carrier, it can be unlocked after 40 to 60 days for
postpaid or up to a year for prepaid. You can
contact the carrier to request unlocking; this would
allow you to switch to another provider.
There are also options to purchase unlocked
phones directly from the manufacturer — such as
Apple or Samsung — and make monthly payments
without interest and (in most cases) without being
locked into a certain carrier’s service.
Operating System
Apple iPhones use iOS, while most other phones
use Android and fall under various brands, such as
Samsung, LG, and Google. The majority of
customers choose one of these, although there are
still options out there for Windows phones,
Blackberry, or even the classic flip phone.
Using iOS or Android is a matter of personal
preference and how immersed you are in either the
Apple or Google ecosystem. CNET and Digital
Trends cite a uniform, streamlined experience
across iPhones and other Apple devices and
consistent software updates as strengths of iOS.
With Android , it’s the ease of customizing the
phone and strong voice assistant capabilities.
Storage
The internal storage a phone has will determine
how much space is available for saving files, apps,
and media. Common amounts are 32GB, 64GB,
128GB, and 256GB, with higher levels being more
costly. To get the right amount, you can consider
usage on your current phone and whether that is
sufficient — or if you frequently need to clear
things out to free up space.
If you can’t afford to go up right now, some
smartphones have the option of utilizing MicroSD
cards to add storage. Cloud storage is an option as
well, with some brands and service providers
offering basic plans for free and options to
purchase additional cloud storage if needed.
RAM
Random-access memory (RAM) stores the open
programs running on a phone. Higher amounts of
RAM mean multiple applications can be open at
once with quick switching between them.
Processor
The phone’s processor determines its overall
performance — whether the phone runs fast or
slow. Most phones are multi-core, so they will have
at least two cores. These cores each represent
individual processing power, although the highest
number of cores may only be necessary for mobile
gaming and other complex uses. The clock speed
should also be factored in — this will be a number
with GHz after it. Higher numbers indicate faster
performance, even while utilizing fewer cores in
some cases.
Screen
The size of a phone’s screen and the resolution are
major considerations. Screen size options range
from large phones over 6” to tiny 3.3” phones
(measured diagonally), and a lot more in between.
Customers may prefer the portability and ease of
holding a smaller phone in the hand or pocket,
while others appreciate extra screen space for
heavy reading or video watching.
The resolution is displayed as width × height in
pixels. Numbers that are 1280x720 or above are
considered high definition. 1920x1080 or above is
1080p or full HD, while 3840x2160 or more is 4K.
Before spending more for higher resolution,
consider the downsides, including impact on
battery life and performance.
Battery Life
There’s nothing worse than a device being on the
brink of dying without a charger handy. Many
usage factors can affect battery life, but phones
with a larger battery will generally last longer.
Phones use lithium ion rechargeable batteries that
can go up to 5,000 mAh. You can also consider
models with fast-charging or wireless charging
capabilities, or just make sure to have extra phone
chargers or portable power banks handy if the
battery tends to run out quickly.
Camera
When considering the camera, look at the
megapixels or MP number as a basic indicator of
image resolution. To delve into more specs, check
out PCMag and TechRadar for their top picks for
the best phone cameras.
Reviews
To further help with your phone purchasing
decision, you can check out reviews at sites like
CNET or PCMag . Also, consider checking out the
customer reviews at retailer sites to consider other
people’s experience.

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I get a deal on my next cell
phone?

Here at DealNews, we list the best phone deals we

find, along with special offers for apps and
accessories. You can shop specific categories
using the links below:

Apple iPhones
iPhone accessories
Android phones
Android accessories
Cell Phone Accessories

We cover price reductions on unlocked models, as

well as top promotions from major service
providers, like AT&T and Verizon . Deals from
carriers are always available, but keep in mind that
they often require a new line of service. This works
well for new customers, but existing customers
may not be able to take advantage of these offers if
they don’t need another line.
Besides the major carriers, various retailers and
manufacturers sell handsets that are unlocked or
compatible with service providers. These stores
can offer their own sales and deals, so check
around for pricing once you have a particular model
or two in mind. We list deals on phones and
accessories from Amazon , Apple , Samsung ,
Best Buy , and more stores. As mentioned
previously, buying direct from the manufacturer
can give no-interest financing similar to carrier
deals while keeping the device unlocked in most
cases.
We also cover refurbished phone deals , which
can be an option to save money compared to
buying new. Stores like Apple offer like-new
models at a discount and a one-year warranty.
However, with unfamiliar sellers, be sure to review
the warranty policy and item condition details
carefully. Then compare the price of buying new to
be sure the savings are significant enough to make
it worth doing.

When is the best time to buy a new

phone?

As we mention in our article When Is the Best Time

to Buy a New Phone?, November and December
are great months to check for smartphone
discounts. Specifically, deals on the latest flagship
phones are often seen around Black Friday and
Cyber Monday.

Want to know the moment we post a great deal on

Phones & Cell Phones? CREATE AN ALERT

Published Phone & Cell Phone Offers

Total Offers 132

Largest Discount 84% off
Average Savings $78.68
Coupon Codes 22

CONNECT

DEALS HELPFUL LINKS

POPULAR BRANDS USE THE FULL SITE

ONLINE COUPONS ABOUT US

CONTACT US

STORE COMPLAINTS

PRESS ROOM

ADVERTISE ON
DEALNEWS

MARKETPLACE
EXPERTISE

CAREERS

SWEEPSTAKES WINNERS
This site uses cookies to optimize
FAQ your experience,
analyze traffic, and remember your preferences.

LEARN MORE
© Copyright 2024 DealNews. AllACCEPT
rights reserved.
Privacy Policy | Disclaimer