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Android Authority
7 days ago
- Business
- Android Authority
15 years of Galaxy S: How Samsung changed the smartphone game
Samsung Today is a very special day for Samsung and the smartphone industry at large, as it marks the 15th anniversary of the original Samsung Galaxy S going on sale. Yep, the first Galaxy S handset went on sale all those years ago, on June 4, 2010. The original Galaxy S delivered great hardware for the time, although the design and software later drew unfavorable comparisons to the iPhone. Nevertheless, the device laid the foundation for some truly game-changing smartphone releases. And 15 years later, Samsung stands atop the pile as the world's most popular smartphone maker. The Galaxy S series hits the gym Samsung followed up on the original Galaxy S with the Galaxy SII in 2011, which was one of the first phones to truly go toe-to-toe with Apple in almost every area. The company then followed up with the Galaxy SIII and S4 in 2012 and 2013, respectively, with the S4 still being the most popular Android phone ever sold. These two phones also cemented Samsung's reputation as an innovator, although these devices also featured a few gimmicks and a bloated Android skin. Samsung went back to basics with 2014's durable Galaxy S5 before it launched 2015's divisive Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge. The 2015 releases matched Apple in good (design) and bad ways (pricing) but also cut features like expandable storage and water resistance. Samsung's Galaxy S phones have been the face of Android in global markets for years now. The Korean brand would go on to achieve great success with the Galaxy S7 series to Galaxy S9 range from 2016 to 2018, introducing features like Dex, dual-pixel autofocus tech, and dual-aperture cameras. These phones also brought back expandable storage and water resistance while still offering premium designs. However, Samsung's entire portfolio suffered reputational damage during this period in the wake of the Galaxy Note 7 catching fire in 2016. 2019's Galaxy S10 series might be the high water mark for the series in the 2010s. This was largely due to the Galaxy S10e, which offered a cheap price tag, a relatively compact design, and a solid list of flagship features. This generation also gave us the company's first widely available 5G phone, the Galaxy S10 5G. Samsung in the 2020s: Still the top dog after all this time C. Scott Brown / Android Authority The 2020s saw the industry firmly transition to 5G and this was a mixed bag for Samsung. 2020's Galaxy S20 phones were the most expensive to date at $1,000 to $1,400, and they also ditched the headphone jack. 2021's Galaxy S21 series dropped the microSD card slot and bundled charger, while Samsung cheaped out on the standard and Plus phones. There were notable upsides too, though, such as 8K recording for the first time, crazy periscope cameras on the Ultra models, and S Pen support on the S21 Ultra. Samsung has largely been complacent with its most recent Galaxy S phones, but they're still the most popular Android flagships. The Galaxy S22 series was released in 2022, and there's a strong argument that Samsung is still using these phones as the foundation for its current models. In fact, the Galaxy S25 and S25 Plus still have the same fundamental camera hardware and wired charging speeds as the S22 and S22 Plus, while battery sizes haven't grown much since then. Samsung's Ultra phones have seen more rapid evolution since the S22 Ultra, switching to a 200MP main camera, dropping the 10x 10MP periscope camera in favor of a 50MP 5x shooter, and offering impressive durability thanks to Gorilla Armor protection. But the S25 Ultra still retains the same 3x 10MP camera, 5,000mAh battery, and 45W wired charging speed seen on the S22 Ultra. Despite the Galaxy S25 phones being mostly iterative upgrades compared to even the S22 series, the Galaxy S range continues to be the most popular high-end Android phones globally. That's in large part due to Samsung's huge geographical footprint, expansive software, and significant brand power. These strengths and more allowed Samsung to see off challengers from LG, HTC, Nokia, Sony, and more. But it all started with the original Galaxy S 15 years ago. Got a tip? Talk to us! Email our staff at Email our staff at news@ . You can stay anonymous or get credit for the info, it's your choice.
Telegraph
28-03-2025
- Telegraph
Best budget smartphones of 2025, tried and tested by an expert
In a market where the latest iPhone or Samsung Galaxy S can cost upwards of £800, it's useful to know that there are far more affordable alternatives. Finding the best budget smartphone will save you a lot of money and with the very best examples, you might not even notice a qualitative difference. Most of the following recommendations sit around the £500 mark. At this 'mid-range' price, you can expect to find phones that broadly emulate the flagship experience. The best examples from manufacturers such as Google, Samsung, and Nothing will offer smooth performance, vibrant and responsive displays and decent cameras. Spend less than £300 and you can expect to find phones that perform the day-to-day basics adequately, with perhaps one or two exceptional areas (excellent battery life, for example, or a very good screen). Compromises are required to hit such an aggressive price point, but manufacturers such as Xiaomi and Motorola are well-practiced at mitigating the weak points. Experienced tech journalist Jon Mundy has been reviewing phones since the beginning of the modern smartphone industry. Here are his recommendations for the best affordable phones on the market in 2025. Before we get started, here are his top five. What are the best budget phones of 2025? At a glance How to choose the best budget smartphone for you While it's possible to spend as much as £2,000 on a modern phone, the average flagship handset will cost half that. When we talk about budget smartphones, we're talking about phones that cost £500 or less. Every modern smartphone, regardless of price, should be able to place calls, send and receive messages, take photographs and run applications. The cheaper the phone, the more likely one or more of those basic areas is going to be compromised to some degree. Picking a budget smartphone, then, is an exercise in prioritisation. It's impossible to have it all (though our top pick gets close), so you'll need to determine what's important to you. Do you favour speedy performance, a strong camera, excellent battery life or a big and bright display? How important are features such as wireless charging or water resistance? Once you have an idea of what you're looking for in a budget smartphone, and just as importantly what you're willing to live without, there are a range of excellent options to choose from. Why you can trust Telegraph Recommended Our thorough, real-world tests will always help you find the best product at the best price. No manufacturer ever sees copy before publication and we do not accept payment in exchange for favourable reviews. Visit our Who We Are page to learn more. How I tested the best budget smartphones I tested all of these budget smartphones against five metrics: design and features, display, performance and battery life, software and AI and camera capabilities. As the priority here is affordability, no single phone in this selection scores brilliantly in every department. With that in mind, I have given each recommended phone a particular award for the area in which they excel. The top two are listed as best buy and best value, but there are separate entries for categories such as best design, best gaming and the like. You should be able to find a budget phone here that meets your overriding needs. Where available, I've linked to full reviews for the handsets involved, but most of these budget phones haven't been covered in detail. However, I have personally tested each and every phone featured here. Best budget smartphones 1. Google Pixel 8a £399, Google Best budget phone overall, 9/10 We like: wireless charging, strong main camera, clean Android UI We don't like: Pixel 9a soon available, dated design, underwhelming battery life Screen: 6.1in AMOLED, 120Hz refresh rate Cameras: Dual (64MP wide, 13MP ultrawide), 13MP selfie Processor: Google Tensor G3 Storage options: 128GB, 256GB Operating system: Android 15 Dimensions: 152.1 x 72.7 x 8.9mm Weight: 188g Colours: Aloe, Bay, Porcelain, Obsidian At the time of writing, Google is about to release a new budget phone in the Pixel 9a. However, the Pixel 8a remains an excellent choice. Google is continuing to sell the phone as new, but with a £100 discount. Given that we're only a year into the company's promised 7 years of software support, there's plenty of life left in the Pixel 8a yet. It continues to perform well for a phone of its price, thanks to the same Tensor G3 chip that powered Google's previous generation of flagship phones. Meanwhile, its 6.1-inch 120Hz AMOLED display is both vibrant and responsive. This is a compact phone by modern standards, though its rounded design feels somewhat dated. The smaller size means a smaller battery too, which results in less-than-stellar stamina. It's built very well, however, with a solid aluminium frame and an IP67 rating that essentially means it's waterproof. Google's Pixel phones are renowned for their cameras, and while the Pixel 8a falls noticeably short of the Pixel 9 range, it still captures bright, contrasty images. It's arguably the best budget phone for photography, though you're better off with the Nothing Phone 3a Pro if you want a dedicated telephoto lens. The Pixel 8a also grants access to some of Google's brilliant AI-enhanced editing tools. Magic Eraser lets you remove unwanted background elements, while Best Take patches together the best parts of multiple similar shots. Then there are those features that you'll struggle to find elsewhere, such as wireless charging and Google's clean, concise software. It's a remarkably complete phone for those on a budget. Screen: 6.7in OLED, 144Hz refresh rate Processor: Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 Cameras: Dual (50MP wide, 13MP ultrawide), 32MP selfie Storage options: 256GB Operating system: Android 15 Dimensions: 161.9 x 73.1 x 7.9mm Weight: 174.9g Colours: Hot Pink, Forest Blue, Marshmallow Blue Like the Pixel 8a, the Motorola Edge 50 Fusion is due to be replaced soon. Unlike the Pixel 8a, there are only two more major operating system updates left to come. However, a significantly lower asking price makes such a shortcoming easier to overlook. At the time of writing, Motorola has knocked its RRP of £350 to just £280. That's an excellent price for a very good-looking phone, which can be specified in several striking colours. Motorola has resisted the wider trend for adopting a more industrial iPhone-inspired design language, which makes the Edge 50 Fusion's thin and curvaceous looks really stand out. An IP68 water resistance rating is right up there with flagship phones, too. Other outstanding features include a large and bright 6.7-inch OLED display, which boasts an unusually rapid 144Hz refresh rate. Most phones will only go up to 120Hz, regardless of their price. Performance is adequate rather than spectacular, thanks to Motorola's use of a modest Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 processor. Much more impressive is the Fusion's charging speed, with the increasingly rare provision of a rapid 68W charger bundled into the box. It's a nice complement to the phone's 5,000mAh battery, which might last lighter users a full two days between charges. Add in Motorola's typically clean, uncluttered user interface and you have a phone that gives off a certain air of opulence despite its modest pricing. 3. iPhone 15 (Refurbished) £475.99, Backmarket Best iPhone on a budget, 9/10 We like: excellent build quality, superb camera, speedy performance We don't like: still expensive brand new, display not as smooth as it should be Screen: 6.1in OLED, 60Hz refresh rate Processor: Apple A16 Bionic Cameras: Dual (48MP wide, 12MP ultrawide), 12MP selfie Storage options: 128GB, 256GB, 512GB Operating system: iOS 18 Dimensions: 147.6 x 71.6 x 7.8mm Weight: 171g Colours: Black, Yellow, Blue, Green, Pink Apple has just launched a new entry-level iPhone in the iPhone 16e, but I'm not recommending that here. It costs £600 brand new, which is too expensive to meet the 'budget phone' criteria outlined above. You can do better by shopping around for an iPhone 15. Apple continues to sell its last-gen phone as new at a discounted price, though it still costs more than the iPhone 16e. It's possible to make significant savings by picking up a refurbished model from the likes of Back Market, Giffgaff, or Music Magpie – anywhere with a decent restoration programme and a solid 12-month guarantee. As for the iPhone 15 itself, it's a flat-out better phone than the new iPhone 16e. Its processor might not be quite as speedy, but the A16 Bionic continues to make most of the mid-priced Android crowd look lethargic. It's annoying that Apple continues to treat a smooth 120Hz display as a 'Pro' feature, and this means that the iPhone 15's 60Hz screen feels less smooth than the other phones featured here. However, it remains a sharp, vibrant 6.1-inch OLED. Apple's Dynamic Island, meanwhile, is a clever way of making a virtue of its extended display notch, adding useful heads-up information whilst retaining Apple's peerless Face ID authentication system. The iPhone 15's camera is also of an excellent quality, and bests all of the Android rivals on this list in regular day-to-day snapping. You also get the little quality of life features that come with an Apple flagship, like MagSafe wireless charging and IP68 waterproof certification. 4. OnePlus Nord 4 £459, OnePlus Best budget phone design, 9/10 We like: unusual metal unibody design, speedy performance, fluid UI We don't like: cameras not great, relatively heavy, metal design may not be to everyone's taste Screen: 6.74in AMOLED, 120Hz refresh rate Processor: Snapdragon 7+ Gen 3 Cameras: Dual (50MP wide, 8MP ultrawide), 16MP selfie Storage options: 512GB Operating system: Android 15 with OxygenOS 15 Dimensions: 162.6 x 75 x 8mm Weight: 199.5g Colours: Mercurial Silver, Obsidian Midnight, Oasis Green There are several phones with stand-out designs on this list. The Nothing Phone 3a Pro is notable for its flashy semi-transparent aesthetic, while the Moto G75 appeals for its military-grade toughness. The HMD Skyline's built-in repairability deserves a mention, too. However, the OnePlus Nord 4 gets our overall design vote for its fresh yet practical unibody build, as well as the simple fact that it's an excellent all-round phone for the money. Its design harks back to a more robust era of smartphone development when certain manufacturers would extend the metallic frame of a phone around the entire body. The Nord 4's external surface is almost entirely made of aluminium, except for a small plastic section around the cameras. This means there's no fragile glass (on the rear at least) to crack when you inevitably drop it, but the phone still feels good to hold. It also means that the Nord 4 is a touch heavier than some of its rivals, though this could also come down to a larger-than-average 5,500mAh battery, which results in strong stamina. Other noteworthy elements include a big, sharp and bright AMOLED display and a snappy Snapdragon 7+ Gen 3 processor. This phone is an excellent performer. OnePlus's OxygenOS is one of the more fluid custom Android interfaces on the market, though it's also somewhat busy, and the promise of 4 years of upgrades situates it right in the middle of the pack. Just about the only other aspect of the OnePlus Nord 4 that doesn't impress is its camera, which offers merely adequate results from a rather humble 50-megapixel main sensor and a fairly average 8-megapixel ultrawide. Otherwise, it's an unusually well-built and capable budget phone. 5. Nothing Phone 3a Pro £449, Nothing Best budget phone for creativity, 8/10 We like: dedicated telephoto camera, creative Essential Key, unique design We don't like: big and bulky, performance not the best, only 3 years of Android OS updates Screen: 6.77in OLED, 120Hz refresh rate Processor: Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 Cameras: Triple (50MP wide, 8MP ultrawide, 50MP telephoto), 50MP selfie Storage options: 256GB Operating system: Android 15 with Nothing OS 3.1 Dimensions: 163.5 x 77.5 x 8.4mm Weight: 211g Colours: Grey, Black It can sometimes feel as if smartphone manufacturers have arrived at a consensus on what constitutes acceptable smartphone design (step one: take note of whatever Apple's doing). Nothing routinely chooses to buck that trend and the Nothing Phone 3a Pro is full of creative touches. The most striking innovation is Nothing's daring semi-transparent aesthetic, which reveals hints of the components contained within. This also shows off the company's eye-catching Glyph system, which involves several extended LEDs wrapped around the camera module that provide customisable notifications. This is also one of only two phones on this list that include a dedicated telephoto camera, which lets you get more creative with your photography. Such a natural 3x zoom provision, steadied out by optical image stabilisation (OIS), is ideal for street photography. Nothing has also added a dedicated button on the right edge of the phone, called the Essential Key. Pressing this context-sensitive button will capture and automatically categorise screenshots when you come across something interesting, while a long press will also attach a voice note. It's a powerful memo-creation tool. The rest of the package is broadly competitive, with a clean user interface, adequate (if far from spectacular) performance and decent battery life. It's a little bigger and bulkier than I would have liked and Nothing's 3-year software update promise is a little off the pace, but creative types on a budget will find much to like here. Screen: 6.67in AMOLED, 120Hz refresh rate Processor: MediaTek Dimensity 8400 Ultra Cameras: Dual (50MP wide, 8MP ultrawide), 20MP selfie Storage options: 256GB, 512GB Operating system: Android 15 with HyperOS 2 Dimensions: 160.8 x 75.2 x 8.3mm Weight: 195g Colours: Black, Green, Yellow Xiaomi's Poco phones are always aggressively priced, but they also tend to provide strong gaming performance. The Poco X7 Pro outperforms the £999 Google Pixel 9 Pro, yet it costs less than a third of the price. With Xiaomi running regular discount deals, you might just find the Poco X7 Pro to be the best gaming phone under £300. This high level of performance was achieved by adopting MediaTek's Dimensity 8400 Ultra chip, a highly capable yet cheaper alternative to Qualcomm's more mainstream Snapdragon platforms. It's not just the Poco X7 Pro's chip that makes it well suited to gaming though. Xiaomi has fitted its phone with a 6,000mAh battery, which is one of the largest on the market. It's enough to stand up to extended bouts of 3D gaming and should see you through two full days of normal usage without the need to recharge. Even if you do need to hook the phone up for a quick top up, the Poco X7 Pro supports up to 90W fast charging – though you'll need to buy the necessary charger separately. Xiaomi's Poco design work vacillates between the bland black or green models and the garish yellow and black option. It's well built, however, with an IP68 rating that offers a flagship level of water resistance. Meanwhile, the 6.67-inch AMOLED screen around the front proves sharp and accurate. There's less to commend Xiaomi's custom user interface for. HyperOS is cluttered with ugly icons and extraneous apps, though it proves fluid enough once you've performed a little software pruning. You don't buy any Poco-branded phone if you're concerned with taking the best photos, but the X7 Pro's 50-megapixel main camera can hold its own in good lighting. 7. Samsung Galaxy A56 £499, Samsung Best budget phone display, 8/10 We like: big and colourful screen, premium build, strong stamina We don't like: no wireless charging, lacks AI features, performance not among the best Screen: 6.7in AMOLED, 120Hz refresh rate Processor: Samsung Exynos 1580 Cameras: Triple (50MP wide, 12MP ultrawide, 5MP macro), 12MP selfie Storage options: 256GB Operating system: Android 15 with One UI 7 Dimensions: 162.2 x 77.5 x 7.4mm Weight: 198g Colours: Awesome Pink, Awesome Olive, Awesome Graphite, Awesome Lightgrey The Samsung Galaxy A56 looks and feels like a far more expensive phone, such as the Samsung Galaxy S24 FE or even the Samsung Galaxy S25+. It's built of solid glass and metal and has a decent level of water resistance. Samsung's 6.7-inch AMOLED display is one of the best you'll find for this sort of money. It's large and it outputs rich colours without looking unnatural, while a 120Hz refresh rate keeps scrolling smooth. The provision of a new Exynos 1580 processor manages to keep up with that smooth screen, while the phone's sizeable battery provides ample stamina for a day, or even two, of usage. There's no wireless charging, which is a bit of a downer given how premium the design is, but it's not a given in the budget space either. While the Galaxy A56 lacks the dedicated telephoto camera of the Nothing Phone 3a Pro, its main camera proves nice and dependable. The images it captures are detailed and well exposed, with Samsung's trademark vibrant colours. One UI 7 is crisp and snappy, if a little convoluted and lacking in the AI features of the Galaxy S series, while Samsung's promised 6 years of software support is second only to Google's Pixel range. Standout screen aside, the Samsung Galaxy A56 is simply a very well balanced phone for the money. Screen: 6.55in pOLED, 144Hz refresh rate Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 Cameras: Triple (108MP wide, 13MP ultrawide, 50MP telephoto), 50MP selfie Storage options: 128GB, 256GB Operating system: Android 15 Dimensions: 159.8 x 76 x 8.9mm Weight: 209.5g Colours: Blue Topaz, Twisted Black, Neon Pink HMD is a Finnish manufacturer closely associated with the Nokia brand. Its own-branded HMD Skyline deliberately evokes the classic Lumia Windows Phones of the 2010s, with its robust, sharp-cornered design language. This is a much more forward-thinking phone than such a nostalgic appearance might suggest, however. Its key feature is repairability, with the facility to easily (and cheaply) replace the phone's display and battery yourself. Rather unexpectedly, the HMD Skyline also features Qi2 charging. This magnetic wireless charging standard hasn't been adopted by any other Android phone to date. You're more likely to know it by another name - Apple's MagSafe charging, which it provides for most of its iPhones. These stand-out features aside, the HMD Skyline is a decent mid-range phone, with a sharp AMOLED display (that runs a little cool to my eye, but the colour temperature can be adjusted), good-enough performance, and an unadorned version of Android 15. It's not among the best budget phones for battery life, though. Nor is the Skyline's main camera quite as strong as its 108-megapixel specification suggests, especially when it comes to shooting in low light. This is a rare budget phone that includes a dedicated telephoto camera, however, and its 50-megapixel selfie camera with autofocus is another unusually advanced camera provision. Screen: 6.78in LCD, 120Hz refresh rate Processor: Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 Cameras: Dual (50MP wide, 8MP ultrawide), 16MP selfie Storage options: 256GB Operating system: Android 15 Dimensions: 166.1 x 77.2 x 8.3mm Weight: 205g Colours: Charcoal Gery, Aqua Blue, Succulent Green Motorola is already represented higher up this list, but the Moto G75 is remarkable for being both the cheapest and the most rugged phone in our test selection. MIL-STD 810H certification means that it's been put through a US military-grade test suite, and lived to tell the tale. Meanwhile, IP68 certification means it's as water and dust proof as almost any £1,000 phone on the market. Another stand-out specification for a phone of this price is wireless charging. Again, not every phone featured here can boast such a provision. Motorola's software is clean and intuitive, with a Moto app that provides the perfect introduction to the phone's features. The company's gesture shortcuts, in particular, are some of the best in the business, allowing you to activate the torch or camera functions with simple hand motions. Motorola's 5-year OS upgrade promise is very good, too. Naturally, compromises have had to be made in order to squeeze such unusual features into such a cheap phone. The Moto G75's performance isn't particularly rapid, while its LCD lacks the vibrancy of the AMOLED screens featured on most of its rivals. The dual camera system, meanwhile, doesn't offer anything to write home about, though it still manages to hold its own in decent lighting conditions. However, if you're looking for an easy-to-use phone that can stand up to extreme conditions, you won't find many better options at any price. It might just be the best Android phone under £300, and it's definitely the most interesting. Budget smartphone FAQ's What is the best budget smartphone in 2025? The Google Pixel 8a is the best all-round budget smartphone available right now. Which budget phone has the best camera? If you're shopping brand new, the Google Pixel 8a offers a great point-and-shoot experience, while the Nothing Phone 3a Pro gives you a dedicated telephoto camera for zoomed-in shots. What is the best budget phone for battery life? The OnePlus Nord 4 and the Poco X7 Pro come with larger-than-average batteries and are good for a full two days of usage. Can you get a good 5G phone on a budget? Yes, every phone on this list comes with 5G connectivity. What's the best budget smartphone for gaming? The Poco X7 Pro offers outstanding gaming performance on a budget.
Yahoo
11-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Best AT&T Deals: Score a Free iPhone or Android With a Trade-In
If you're shopping for a new phone, you should take a look at the deals being offered by major carriers like T-Mobile, Verizon and AT&T before you pay full price. Carriers consistently offer some incredible bargains on the latest phones from Apple, Samsung, Google and other brands -- including a chance to grab one for free if you've got an older device to trade-in. To help you take advantage of these savings, we've rounded up some of the best bargains available at AT&T right now below. There are also a number of deals for those looking to add a new line or switch their service from another carrier. It's also worth noting that carriers constantly update their deals. AT&T has some pretty compelling offers available, though the best deals often require you to be on one of the carrier's unlimited plans. In general, the very best offers usually happen around new phone launches (February or March for Samsung Galaxy S phones; September for Apple iPhones; fall for Google Pixel phones) or the holidays, but AT&T also tends to offer some solid bargains year-round. Hey, did you know? CNET Deals texts are free, easy and save you money. While some manufacturers, particularly Apple and Samsung, offer deals on their own websites and stores, most users look to carriers to buy new devices. We'll keep this page updated regularly with some of the best deals we're seeing on AT&T's website. Many of AT&T's phone deals are available to both new and existing customers, though trade-ins are often required to get the advertised prices. It's worth noting that these deals are split across 36 months of bill credits, meaning you'll need to remain an AT&T customer for at least three years to pay off the phone. If you cancel before that period is over, you'll be responsible for any remaining charges. AT&T is offering great deals on the flagship iPhone 16 lineup. Those on an eligible unlimited plan can trade in their old phone for up to $830 off the iPhone 16, and $1,000 off the 16 Pro and Pro Max. That scores you the basic model or the 16 Pro for free and drops the 16 Pro Max down to less than $6 per month. If you don't have an eligible trade-in, purchasing the iPhone 16 Plus on an installment plan will save you $534 as long as you're on a qualifying unlimited plan, which drops the price down to $11 per month. The discounts will be applied as bill credits over a 36-month period, and AT&T is also offering a special online-only offer of $200 with the activation of a new line. See at AT&T Samsung's new Galaxy S25 phones are some of the most advanced Androids out there, and AT&T is offering a chance to snag all three models for less right now. Trading in an eligible device scores you any Galaxy S25 model for free, as long as you have or switch to an unlimited plan. For the basic Galaxy S25 and S25 Plus, any device valued at just $35 or more qualifies, while the S25 Ultra requires a trade-in value of $230 or more. Other offers include 50% off select Samsung accessories when bundled with the purchase, and you can also get a Galaxy Tab A9 Plus 5G or a Galaxy Watch FE for just $1 per month, but you'll need a new line for these devices as well. See at AT&T Samsung's latest Galaxy Z 6 series foldables are some of our absolute favorites on the market right now. Prices start at $1,100 for the smaller Z Flip 6 and jump up to a staggering $1,900 for the large-screen Z Fold 6. Right now, you can knock up to $1,000 off both models with an eligible trade-in at AT&T. You'll get the full discount for any devices valued at $95 or more, and even devices valued at just $35 will still net you $800 in credit. Discounts are applied as bill credits, dropping the Z Flip 6 to just $3 per month and the Z Fold 6 down to $25 per month. Other offers include 50% off select Samsung accessories when bundled with the purchase, and you can also get a Galaxy Tab A9+ 5G or a Galaxy Watch FE for just $1 per month, but you'll need a new line for these devices as well. See at AT&T AT&T doesn't carry the Pixel 9 Pro Fold, but it is offering some savings on other models right now. If you're after the basic Pixel 9, you can snag it for just $6 per month when you purchase it on an installment plan and sign up for AT&T's Next Up Anytime service. That saves you $635 with no trade-in or new line required. If you do have an old phone valued at $35 or higher, you can trade it in for up to $1,050 off, which scores you the Pixel 9 Pro for free or 9 Pro XL for just $6 per month, as long as you have or switch to an eligible unlimited plan and are signed up for the Next Up Anytime service. See at AT&T AT&T has a number of deals for those who don't have a phone to trade in. You can get discounts on models like the new iPhone 16E or top-rated Motorola Razr Plus when you purchase them on a 36-month installment plan. These deals don't require a trade-in or the activation of a new line, but you will have to keep your AT&T service for the entire three-year period. With these offers, you can get both the iPhone 16E and Motorola Razr Plus for just $6 per month, which saves you up to $784. See at AT&T If you're looking to make the switch to AT&T, there are a few deals on various plans that might make you lean toward one or the other. Promotions on plans are less common these days, though oftentimes you can get some free extras (like streaming service subscriptions and music subscriptions) with enrollment in some of the higher end 5G plans from each carrier. AT&T, however, no longer offers free streaming services to new subscribers who don't already have it on their plans. AT&T includes 5G access with all of its plans; the biggest difference for most users on its latest plans is the amount of hotspot data. There are also differences in the amount of "high-speed" data, though even on its cheapest Starter plan AT&T says it will only slow your speeds "temporarily" if you're in an area where the network is "busy." As for savings, your employer might also offer a corporate discount on plans, but you will need to check with them to see if that applies to personal accounts. AT&T also offers a host of discounts depending on your profession. Are you a teacher, or is someone on your family plan a teacher? You could save on your wireless bill. AT&T offers a teacher discount on its plans that could save serious money depending on which plan. The cheapest price for four lines is $27 per line per month for its Starter plan. The Unlimited Extra Plan costs $31 per month per line, and the Premium plan is the most expensive at $38 per line. If you want one line, the price for the Starter plan is $49. Teachers can verify their eligibility by heading to AT&T's website here. The carrier says the deal is open to "certified/licensed K-12 teachers at public or private schools, or college or university faculty members or instructors." You will also need to be on AT&T's Unlimited Starter, Extra or Premium plans. See at AT&T AT&T has a deal for nurses and physicians that's identical to the teachers' deal mentioned above, with up to the same 25% discount on wireless plans. As with the teachers' deal, you need to verify your employment with AT&T, with the offer open to those who are "certified or licensed doctors, nurses or physician assistants." You can't combine this discount with the teachers' offer. You will also need to be on AT&T's Unlimited Starter, Extra or Premium plans. See at AT&T AT&T offers the same 25% discount on plans to active-duty military, veterans and first responders. As with the nurses' and teachers' deals, you only need one person on your plan to meet these qualifications for the discount, which will vary depending on how many lines you have. First responders can check their eligibility at this website, while active-duty military members can sign up here with their .mil email addresses. Veterans can sign up here. See at ATT
Yahoo
12-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Best T-Mobile Deals: Score a Free iPhone, Save $1,000 on a Samsung Galaxy S25 and More
Switching to a new carrier might help you score massive savings on the latest phones. Some carriers even offer extra perks when you switch. National carriers such as Verizon and AT&T tend to offer significant discounts on a wide array of phones, but navigating these deals can be time-consuming. For T-Mobile customers who want to get a better deal, we've looked through the company's entire page to help you find some of the best bargains. To make our selections, we've scoured through the fine print, made apt comparisons and made sure to include the deals that give you the biggest discounts on some of best phones of 2025. We also looked through deals that can help you save on your monthly bill so you can make the most out of a T-Mobile contract. It's worth noting that carriers constantly update their deals. The best offers usually happen around new phone launches -- typically February or March for Samsung Galaxy S phones, September for Apple iPhones and fall for Google Pixel phones -- and around holiday shopping events, like Black Friday. We'll continue to update this page as offers come and go and new phones hit shelves, so be sure to check back again to find the latest deals at any given time. Many of T-Mobile's phone deals are available to new and existing customers, although trade-ins are often required to get the advertised prices. Keep in mind the deals are split across 24 months of bill credits, meaning you'll need to remain a T-Mobile customer for at least two years for the phone to get paid off as the terms state. If you cancel before that period is over, you'll be responsible for any remaining charges. T-Mobile is offering a few different trade-in discounts depending on which service plan you have. People on a Go5G Next plan can save up to $1,000 with an eligible trade-in, which scores you the basic iPhone 16, 16 Plus or 16 Pro for free. Those on a Go5G Plus plan will still get up to $830 off with an eligible trade-in, which scores you the basic model for free. If you're on a basic plan, the most you'll save via trade-in is $300. T-Mobile is also offering up to $830 off when both trading in an old device and activating a new line of service. T-Mobile also has some exclusive offers available to military members, first responders and those over 55. If you qualify for these special discounts, you can save up to $630 with a trade-in on a Go5G Plus or Next plan, or with both a trade-in and the addition of a new line on other qualifying plans. See at T-Mobile Samsung's latest and greatest Galaxy S25 phones have just recently hit the shelves, and you can score some serious savings when you order yours through T-Mobile. The carrier is offering up to $1,000 with a trade-in on a Go5G Plus or Next plan, or up to $500 off if you're on most other plans. If you're looking to activate a new line, that will save you $800 if you opt for the Go5G Plus plan or $600 for most other plans. Both a new line and an eligible trade-in will save you up to $800. See at T-Mobile The next-gen S25 series hits shelves shortly, but these Galaxy S24 models are still some of the best Android out there. T-Mobile is currently sold out of the Galaxy S24 Plus, but it's still offering some solid savings on the basic S24 and the S24 Ultra. An eligible trade-in will save you up to $1,000 on a Go5G Plus or Next plan, or up to $500 on most other plans. You can also save $800 with a new line on a Go5G Plus or Next plan, or $600 for most other service plans. Both a trade-in and a new line will net you up to $800 in savings for most service plans. See at T-Mobile T-Mobile has some generous Pixel 9 offers for those adding a new line or looking to trade in their old phone right now. If you're on a Go5G Next or Plus plan, you'll get up to $1,000 off when either trading in an old phone or adding a new line of service. If you're on a Go5G, Magenta or One plan, you can still save $600 with a new line or $500 with an eligible trade-in. See at T-Mobile This sleek 2024 Motorola is our favorite flip phone on the market. Right now, you can get your hands on one for free at T-Mobile. Those on a Go5G Plus or Next plan will get this phone free with either an eligible trade-in or by adding a new line of service. If you don't want to upgrade plans, people on a Go5G, Magenta or One plan will still get $600 off with a new line or up to $500 off with a trade-in. See at T-Mobile If you're looking to make the switch to T-Mobile, there are a few deals on various plans that might make you lean toward one or the other. Promotions on plans are less common these days, although oftentimes you can get some free extras, like streaming service subscriptions, music subscriptions and extra travel data, with enrollment in some of the higher-end 5G plans from each carrier, including T-Mobile. Customers who are looking to move to T-Mobile and sign up for three lines of service will be happy to hear that the carrier is offering a buy two, get one free promotion, meaning your third line won't cost you anything. This offer is available to those on its Essentials, Go5G or Go5G Plus plans. For those on a Go5G Next plan, the third line is discounted to just $10 per month. See at T-Mobile T-Mobile offers active-duty military, veterans and first responders $5 off the cost of monthly service, which brings the base price of the plans down a little per line with autopay enabled. See at T-Mobile T-Mobile has several discounted plans for people ages 55 and older. Essentials Choice 55 offers two unlimited lines for $60 per month ($30 per line) and the Go5G Plus 55 plan is $110 per month for two lines. If you want the Go5G Next 55 plan, it's $65 per line for two lines or $130 per month total. The Plus and Next plans also come with free bonuses like a one-year AAA membership, a free Netflix subscription and more. See at T-Mobile Up until recently, T-Mobile heavily favored new customers with its best deals, leaving behind folks who were loyal to the carrier. That's since changed, and now most of the offers are available for both new and existing customers under the same terms. It's easy to see up to $1,000 off the price of something and get excited, but you'll want to make sure you know what you're signing up for. T-Mobile applies these discounts as bill credits that are usually spread out across 24 months. Sometimes, part of the discount amount is given in the form of a prepaid gift card (for a trade-in) and the rest is done as bill credits, but that's specified when it's happening. If you don't stick with T-Mobile through the full 24 months of bill credits, you'll be responsible for all the remaining charges. Before canceling or transferring your service to another carrier, be sure to reach out to T-Mobile to understand what you'll actually owe, to ensure you can cover that before making the move.
