As expected, this year’s Black Friday deals event is proving a great opportunity to pick up an otherwise expensive smartphone for a much more reasonable price (25% off the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra, anyone?), but it’s important to remember that there are big savings to be had on lower-profile models, too.
Indeed, three of the very best cheap phones in 2023 – the Samsung Galaxy A54, iPhone 13 and Google Pixel 7a – are now cheaper than they’ve ever been (on both sides of the pond).
The Galaxy A54, for instance, is now just $324.99 (down from $449.99) at Amazon in the US, or £275.50 (down from £399) at the same retailer in the UK. The iPhone 13 has been reduced to $599 (down from $699) at Apple in the US, or £549 (down from £599) at Amazon in the UK. And lastly, the Google Pixel 7a is now only $374 (down from $499) at Amazon in the US, or £379 (down from £449) at the same retailer in the UK. All six prices (all six!) represent lowest-ever figures.
Naturally, none of these phones can rival their newer (and more expensive) siblings for power, but all three remain more-than-capable handsets thanks to their still-powerful chipsets, impressive displays and decent cameras. They’ll be supported with software and security updates for at least the next three years, too (if you go for the Samsung, you’ll get four years of support, and if you go for the iPhone, you’ll get five).
Today's best cheap phone deals
Samsung Galaxy A54 5G
US: was $449.99 now $324.99 at Amazon
UK: was £399 now £275.50 at Amazon
The cornerstone of Samsung's 2023 Galaxy A-series phones boasts a crisp 6.4-inch AMOLED display, three capable cameras – a 50MP wide, 12MP ultrawide and 10MP front-facing – and enviable longevity. It's a truly solid phone that's never been cheaper than it is right now, so we suggest you act on these deals quickly, before they expire (or stock runs out).
iPhone 13
US: was $699 now $599 at Apple
UK: was £599 now £549 at Amazon
The iPhone 13 was already reduced by $100 / £100 following the release of the iPhone 14 last year, but now that the iPhone 15 is out, it's even better value. If you're simply looking for a capable iPhone at a cut price, then this is the model to go for – it's pretty much the same phone as the iPhone 14, but cheaper. Their designs are identical, their cameras are (almost) identical and their chipsets are separated by just one generation – which, in Apple terms, means next to nothing.
Google Pixel 7a
US: was $499 now $374 at Amazon
UK: was £449 now £379 at Amazon
You can currently pick up the Pixel 7a for a record-low $374 / £379 ahead of Black Friday proper. With Google's Tensor G2 chip, a 6.1-inch FHD+ OLED display, dual rear cameras featuring a 64MP wide lens, and great AI features such as Photo Unblur, the Pixel 7a provides an exceptional mobile experience without straining your wallet.
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More Black Friday deals (US)
- Amazon: Black Friday deals LIVE - TVs, AirPods, & clothing
- Apple: AirPods Pro, Apple Watch 8 & iPads from $99
- Adidas: 40% off running shoes, sweatshirts & leggings
- Beauty: 51% off viral makeup, skincare & hair tools
- Best Buy: up to $800 off 4K TVs, laptops & headphones
- Cheap TVs: big-screen 4K TVs from $269.99
- Christmas: 40% off decor, pajamas & trees
- Dell: save on best-selling Inspiron and XPS laptops
- DreamCloud: 40% off all mattresses
- Family pajamas: matching Christmas PJs from $12.99
- Gaming: console bundles from $289.99 at Walmart
- Lenovo: 76% off laptops, desktops & printers
- Lowe's: up to $800 off major appliances
- Nectar: mattress deals starting at $359
- Nordstrom: 30% off Nike, Levi's, Skims, Adidas & more
- Samsung: up to $2,000 of TVs, phones and appliances
- Target: 40% off furniture, TVs, clothing & appliances
- Toys: Disney, Barbie, Lego & board games from $14.99
- Walmart: Apple Watch 9, cheap TVs, air fryers & toys
More Black Friday deals (UK)
- Amazon: up to 65% off Echo, Apple, TVs + more
- AO: up to 40% off appliances, TVs and tech
- Argos: up to 50% off toys, tools and tech
- Boots: up to 40% off 1,000s of beauty products
- Currys: up to 40% off TVs, appliances and laptops
- eBay: up to 60% off refurbished Ninja, Dyson + Apple tech
- Ebuyer: up to 45% off laptops and PC components
- EE: up to £600 off phones, TVs and games consoles
- Emma: up to 65% off mattresses, frames and pillows
- John Lewis: up to 40% off tech, homewares and clothing
- Jessops: up to £550 off Sony, Canon, Nikon, and Fujifilm
- Ninja: up to 25% off air fryers and cookware
- O2: up to £600 off iPhone, Samsung and Google
- Samsung: up to £600 off TVs, phones and appliances
- Shark: up to £100 off vacuums
- Simba: up to 55% off mattresses
- Superdrug: 60% off beauty, fragrances and makeup
- Toolstation: up to 30% off smart home, tools and DIY
- Very: save on tech, decor, appliances and furniture
- Vodafone: six months half-price SIMs from £11.50
- See all of TechRadar's Black Friday coverage
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Axel is TechRadar's UK-based Phones Editor, reporting on everything from the latest Apple developments to newest AI breakthroughs as part of the site's Mobile Computing vertical. Having previously written for publications including Esquire and FourFourTwo, Axel is well-versed in the applications of technology beyond the desktop, and his coverage extends from general reporting and analysis to in-depth interviews and opinion. Axel studied for a degree in English Literature at the University of Warwick before joining TechRadar in 2020, where he then earned an NCTJ qualification as part of the company’s inaugural digital training scheme.