Best phone deals in November 2020
Choosing the right cell phone can be a challenge. If your mobile phone use limited to calls and the occasional text? Or do you need a device that can handle multiple work functions like email and documents?
Consider the following questions in your search:
- Is a smartphone a must or will a basic phone do the job?
- Do you prefer Android phones or an Apple iPhone?
- Does your smartphone camera double as your main camera as well? What about a front-facing camera?
- What screen size and how much battery life do you want? Is a Super AMOLED display a prerequisite?
- How much capacity do you need as far as GB of RAM, microSD card slot, and internal memory?
- Is there a specific brand you like over others?
Cell Phone Price Comparison
Once you decide which features you want in a cell phone you've also got to choose a provider and a plan. If you're not sure about those yet, check out our unlocked phone comparison tool. With an unlocked cell phone, you can pick from a wide variety of providers and bring your phone with you.
Whether you're ready to go all out on a top-of-the-line device with things like expandable storage and a fingerprint sensor, or if you're on a tight budget, we've got you covered. We'll help you find the perfect device, from premium smartphones like the Samsung Galaxy S8 to cheap cell phones that won't strain your wallet or your communication needs.
Where Can I Find the Best Smartphone Deal?
You may think the answer to this question is simple - take on finance payments for the latest fancy device from your carrier. The truth is though that the smartest choice when it comes to buying mobile phones is undergoing big changes.
As Medium points out, more and more consumers are turning to used and refurbished smartphones when it's time to upgrade. Why?
- It's easier than ever before to get cell phones repaired, with independent fix-it shops in virtually every city.
- New devices are just getting more and more outrageously expensive.
- Smartphones have a longer life than most people typically hang onto them, making used an environmentally responsible option.
For those on a budget, used cell phones just make good sense. The average selling price of a used phone in 2017 was $231, and the International Data Corporation (IDC) predicts this will fall to $180 by 2022. That's a huge difference compared to premium device prices, which are creeping all too quickly toward $1000+.
So where can you find the best used and refurbished phones? We make it simple for you to compare the best smartphones with our cell phone comparison tool. See specs on all the most popular smartphones, then compare prices from reputable sellers on both used phones and refurbished devices.
Best Phone Deals for My Network
As I mentioned earlier, an unlocked smartphone can technically be used on nearly any network. There are a few things to understand, however, before choosing the right device for your preferred wireless network.
- There are two types of phones - GSM (designed for AT&T and T-Mobile) and CDMA (made for Verizon Wireless and Sprint).
- Unlocked GSM and CDMA devices can be used on any network - with a 4G connection.
- If you wander into an area with only 3G service and your 4G LTE signal drops, your GSM phone will not work if it's running on a CDMA network and vice versa.
- "Unlocked" is used to describe two different things - unlocked from the original owner's account so that a new owner can use it (on the same network or a different one), and unlocked from the carrier altogether, for use on any network.
Ultimately the best phone is one that is engineered for your network. This is why it's important to have some idea of which wireless carrier you want to go with before buying your device. Need some help choosing? No sweat - check out our overviews of the best GSM carriers and the best CDMA carriers.
Compare Cell Phone Specs
We've already talked about the fact that running to your carrier's nearest brick-and-mortar store will probably result in you essentially having to sign away your firstborn to pay for your device. Okay, not really, but we're talking hundreds of dollars here - only to stay tied to an overpriced mobile provider.
So how do you find a great mobile phone deal from a trustworthy seller? Aside from using our handy phone price comparison engine you can also follow these tips:
- Make sure you're purchasing from a reputable phone site (we've got more help with that in the next section).
- Take timing into account. For example, the best time to buy a used iPhone is generally right before the newest model comes out because people are trying to make extra cash to buy the latest version. In terms of timing this is typically throughout September and October.
- Keep things like warranties in mind - different sellers offer different guarantees and perks. Read all the fine print so you get the most bang for your buck.
- Account for depreciation - iPhones hold their value better, but this also means you'll pay more for a used one than you will for a refurbished Android smartphone like the Samsung Galaxy Note.
How Can MoneySavingPro Help Me?
Not to toot our own horn but we like to think we've got virtually every aspect of finding a great deal on a smartphone and an affordable cell phone plan to go along with it covered.
Start out by reading our collection of cell phone reviews. We'll give you the lowdown on features and specs on devices like the Samsung Galaxy series, the latest iPhones, and the Google Pixel series.
Next, check out our top five picks for the best places to buy a used phone. Read reviews on each of our favorite reputable sellers, including their pros and cons.
