Unlocked phones (both brand new and renewed) are on sale ahead of Prime Day 2. Here are our favorite non-carrier deals, no trade-ins required:
Best unlocked cell phone deals: Best iPhone deal Apple iPhone 14 Plus (512GB, renewed) $769 at Amazon (save $138.56) Get Deal Best Samsung Galaxy deal Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 (256GB) $1,499.99 at Amazon (save $300) Get Deal Best Google Pixel deal Google Pixel 8 Pro (128GB) and Google Pixel Watch 2 (WiFi) bundle $999 at Amazon (save $349.99) Get DealGetting a new cell phone doesn't have to cost you an arm and a leg and an agonizing trip to the Verizon or AT&T store. In fact, you have several opportunities to snag an unlocked version on sale ahead of Prime Big Deal Days, which kicks off on Oct. 10. Because as anyone who has had to go without a phone for an extended period of time knows, every day counts.
SEE ALSO: Early Prime Day Apple deals are here, and we're already seeing new record low pricesExpanding the money-saving possibilities in your hunt for a new phone are several renewed options on sale. No, "renewed" isn't simply a nice way of saying "used" — these phones have been (professionally) fixed up into "basically new or very good condition," complete with little to no blatant wear and tear that you'd probably notice on a hand-me-down phone straight from the previous owner. Renewed phones from Amazon and Best Buy can be returned for a full refund if you're not satisfied with the way they're working — just be sure to check the fine print ahead of ordering to confirm the return window.
Best Apple deal
Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple iPhone 14 Plus (512GB, renewed) $769 at Amazon (save $138.56) Get DealWhy we like it
The iPhone 14 Plus has barely been out for a year and is still a really solid contender for your upgrade — especially if your old phone's inability to hold a charge is your joker origin story. At the time of release (so, October 2022), the iPhone 14 Plus offered the best battery life in Apple's entire phone lineup, yet somehow weighs noticeably less than the equally-sized iPhone 14 Pro Max. Though it didn't bring a ton of new features past the older iPhone 13, the 14 Plus still runs super smoothly with Apple's A15 Bionic processor and a Retina OLED display. FWIW, getting this exact same configuration but brand new from Apple would run you $1,099 without a trade-in.
More iPhone deals
Apple iPhone 13 (128GB) — $579.99 $629.99 (save $50)
(PRODUCT) Red Apple iPhone 14 Plus (512GB, renewed) — $769 $907.56 (save $138.56)
Best Samsung deal
Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 (256GB) $1,499.99 at Amazon (save $300) Get DealWhy we like it
Though many of the Samsung phone deals in our current list are on renewed models, this juicy $300 discount is on a brand-new one. And on a fancy foldable model, at that. The Galaxy Z Fold 5 is the latest version of Samsung's phone that folds hot dog style (not hamburger style like the Flip 5) and offers hallmarks like a sweet dual app view that's great for multitasking. That huge 7.6-inch screen is also impressively immersive for mobile gaming. As Mashable's Alex Perry says, "the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 is about as good as foldables get."
More Samsung Galaxy deals
Samsung Galaxy S20+ (128GB, renewed) — $239.99 $479.97 (save $239.98)
Samsung Galaxy A54 (128GB) — $399.99 $449.99 (save $50)
Samsung Galaxy S22+ (128GB, renewed) — $644 $769 (save $125)
Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra (256GB, renewed) — $794 $1,019.99 (save $225)
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 (256GB) — $899.99 $999.99 (save $100)
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 (512GB) — $1,019.99 $1,119.99 (save $100)
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 (256GB) — $1,119.99 $1,799.99 (save $600)
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 (512GB) — $1,619.99 $1,919.99 (save $300)
Best Google deal
Opens in a new window Credit: Google Google Pixel 8 Pro (128GB) and Google Pixel Watch 2 (WiFi) $999 at Amazon (save $349.99) Get DealWhy we like it
Our favorite Google Pixel deal differs from the rest because it's not exactly a discount on the phone itself — but for Android users who were eyeing both the Google Pixel 8 Pro and the new Pixel Watch, this bundle deal technically saves you more money than any other deal in our list. That's because Google is throwing in a free Pixel Watch 2, a $349.99 value, with any purchase of the Google Pixel 8 Pro, both of which were just announced at the Made by Google event on Oct. 4. The Pro's most notable new features are a temperature sensor in the camera bar that can be used to measure the temperature of objects, and both new phones have Magic Editor mode, which lets you highlight elements of an image and move them around within other things in the picture.
More Google Pixel deals
Google Pixel 6 (128GB, renewed) — $249.66 $359 (save $109.34)
Google Pixel 6 (128GB) — $359 $599 (save $240)
Google Pixel 7 (128GB, renewed) — $489.99 $599 (save $109.01)
Google Pixel 8 (256GB) and Pixel Buds Pro — $759 $958.99 (save $199.99)
