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1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsArchive notice: These were Black Friday offers reported for November 23, 2018. They expired after the 2018 holiday season and are not current prices. The largest advertised savings reached $400, but most required a carrier activation, financing, or other qualification. Unlocked discounts were smaller but easier to compare.
Quick ranking of the 2018 offers
| Phone | Best reported 2018 offer | Status and conditions | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pixel 3 / 3 XL | $400 off through Verizon; up to $200 off at Google Store | Verizon model and qualifying activation for the $400 offer; Google Store discount was direct | Verizon customers or buyers avoiding carrier commitments |
| Pixel 2 XL | $100 off plus reported $350 Google Fi credit | Required Google Fi service and credit conditions | Buyers who would actually use Fi |
| Galaxy Note 9 | $599.99 Verizon model after $400 savings; $799.99 unlocked | Verizon activation for the lower price; unlocked price avoided carrier restrictions | Large-screen buyers choosing between carrier value and flexibility |
| Galaxy S9+ | $439.99 Verizon model after $400 savings; $639.99 unlocked | Carrier qualification for Verizon price; unlocked model cost more | Large-screen Samsung buyers who did not need the Note’s S Pen |
| Galaxy S9 | $319.99 Verizon model after $400 savings; $519.99 unlocked | Carrier qualification for Verizon price | Lowest-cost unlocked Samsung flagship |
| Samsung phones at Best Buy | $300 immediate discount with qualifying activation | Activation required; direct reduction rather than a retailer gift card | Shoppers who preferred an upfront discount |
The main deal roundup was published on Black Friday by Droid Life. Samsung’s advance advertisement, published November 14, listed the specific model prices above; because it was a preview, it should not be treated as proof that every configuration remained in stock on November 23 (Forbes).
Best Google Pixel deals
Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL
Verizon carried the biggest headline discount: $400 off both Pixel 3 models with a Verizon version and qualifying activation. The same phones were reported at $150 off for Pixel 3 and $200 off for Pixel 3 XL through the Google Store. Google also paired a $200 device discount with a reported $200 Google Fi service credit for each model.
Google announced the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL on October 9, 2018, as its third-generation consumer phones (Google’s announcement). Google said the phones could be bought through its store and used with all major carriers (Google’s availability statement).
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#1 Best Overall
- PRIVACY DISPLAY: Automatically hide your screen from those beside you. The built-in privacy display can be preset¹ to turn on when receiving notifications, typing passwords, or using specific apps
- TYPE IT IN. TRANSFORM IT FAST: Enhance any shot in seconds on your smartphone by using Photo Assist² with Galaxy AI.³ Add objects, restore details, or apply new styles by simply typing or tapping
- NIGHTS, CAPTURED CLEARLY: From gigs to city lights, record and capture moments after dark with clarity using Nightography so your photos and videos stay crisp and clear on your Samsung Galaxy
- MAKE IT. EDIT IT. SHARE IT: Turn everyday moments into something personal with creative tools built right into your mobile phone, whether it’s a special contact photo, custom wallpaper, an invitation or more⁴
- HELP THAT KEEPS UP: Stay in the moment while Now Nudge with Galaxy AI helps you respond faster and stay organized with smart suggestions⁵ that appear exactly when you need them on your phone
Pixel 2 XL
The older Pixel 2 XL appeared in two different forms: a reported $400-off Best Buy/Verizon-related promotion, with retailer and activation details requiring verification, and $100 off plus a reported $350 Google Fi credit. The Fi credit was service value, not cash; it only approached its advertised amount for someone who remained eligible and used Fi long enough to redeem it.
How to value Pixel promotions
- Direct discount: reduces the purchase price immediately.
- Carrier discount: may require a new line, upgrade, financing, or a particular plan.
- Fi credit: offsets eligible Fi service and may depend on activation, customer status, monthly issuance, or continued service.
For a buyer who wanted an unlocked phone and no service change, the Google Store reduction was easier to value than the Verizon or Fi packages. For an existing Verizon customer, the $400 offer could be the larger real-world saving if the activation terms fit.
Best Samsung Galaxy deals
Galaxy Note 9
The reported Verizon price was $599.99 for the 128GB model after a $400 saving. The unlocked 128GB model was listed at $799.99, a $200 reduction from the $999.99 list price. Sprint was reported at $300 off, while Best Buy offered a $300 immediate discount on qualifying activation.
Rank #2
- YOUR CONTENT, SUPER SMOOTH: The ultra-clear 6.7" FHD+ Super AMOLED display of Galaxy A17 5G helps bring your content to life, whether you're scrolling through recipes or video chatting with loved ones.¹
- LIVE FAST. CHARGE FASTER: Focus more on the moment and less on your battery percentage with Galaxy A17 5G. Super Fast Charging powers up your battery so you can get back to life sooner.²
- MEMORIES MADE PICTURE PERFECT: Capture every angle in stunning clarity, from wide family photos to close-ups of friends, with the triple-lens camera on Galaxy A17 5G.
- NEED MORE STORAGE? WE HAVE YOU COVERED: With an improved 2TB of expandable storage, Galaxy A17 5G makes it easy to keep cherished photos, videos and important files readily accessible whenever you need them.³
- BUILT TO LAST: With an improved IP54 rating, Galaxy A17 5G is even more durable than before.⁴ It’s built to resist splashes and dust and comes with a stronger yet slimmer Gorilla Glass Victus front and Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer back.
Galaxy S9+
Samsung’s advertised 64GB Verizon price was $439.99 after $400 off. The 64GB unlocked model was $639.99 after a $200 reduction. Best Buy’s qualifying-activation offer was reported at $300 off, while AT&T through Best Buy was reported at $400 off.
Galaxy S9
The 64GB Verizon model was advertised at $319.99 after $400 off, and the unlocked version at $519.99 after $200 off. Sprint advertised savings of up to $672 on the S9 and S9+, but that figure represented a carrier-specific promotion rather than an unlocked, no-strings-attached cash price. Calculate the required payments and service before comparing it with the unlocked prices.
Choosing among Samsung models
- Note 9: the choice for buyers who specifically wanted Samsung’s large Note design and S Pen.
- S9+: a large-screen alternative at a lower advertised price than the Note 9.
- S9: the smaller, least expensive flagship in the unlocked comparison.
The deal sources establish prices and conditions, not independent rankings of camera quality, battery life, or performance.
Rank #3
- TYPE IT IN. TRANSFORM IT FAST: Enhance any shot in seconds on your smartphone by using Photo Assist¹ with Galaxy AI.² Add objects, restore details, or apply new styles by simply typing or tapping
- MAKE IT. EDIT IT. SHARE IT: Turn everyday moments into something personal with creative tools built right into your mobile whether it’s a special contact photo, custom wallpaper, an invitation or more³
- FAST. POWERFUL. AI-READY: Power through your day with AI-accelerated performance from our fastest, smoothest and most powerful Galaxy processor yet, built to keep up with everything you do
- IMMENSELY IMMERSIVE: No matter where you are or what you’re watching, your favorite videos and more come to life with the vibrant display on Galaxy S26
- FIT EVERYONE IN THE SHOT: Group selfies are easier on your Samsung phone with a wider front camera⁴ that captures more of the scene, so no one gets left out of the moment
Best Buy versus Walmart and Target
CBS reported that Best Buy offered a direct $300 discount on qualifying Galaxy Note 9, S9, and S9+ activations. Walmart and Target offered comparable value through retailer gift cards rather than an equivalent reduction at checkout (CBS News).
Best Buy was therefore the clearer choice for someone who wanted the phone’s purchase price reduced immediately. A Walmart or Target card could be equally useful—or better—for a household that already bought groceries or other necessities there. A gift card is not cash-equivalent value for every shopper: consider redemption limits, expiration rules, and whether you would have made those purchases anyway.
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What “$400 off” did—and did not—tell you
The headline number did not by itself establish the final cost. Before buying, check the offer’s original terms for:
Rank #4
- YOUR CONTENT, SUPER SMOOTH: The ultra-clear 6.7" FHD+ Super AMOLED display of Galaxy A17 5G helps bring your content to life, whether you're scrolling through recipes or video chatting with loved ones.¹
- LIVE FAST. CHARGE FASTER: Focus more on the moment and less on your battery percentage with Galaxy A17 5G. Super Fast Charging powers up your battery so you can get back to life sooner.²
- MEMORIES MADE PICTURE PERFECT: Capture every angle in stunning clarity, from wide family photos to close-ups of friends, with the triple-lens camera on Galaxy A17 5G.
- NEED MORE STORAGE? WE HAVE YOU COVERED: With an improved 2TB of expandable storage, Galaxy A17 5G makes it easy to keep cherished photos, videos and important files readily accessible whenever you need them.³
- BUILT TO LAST: With an improved IP54 rating, Galaxy A17 5G is even more durable than before.⁴ It’s built to resist splashes and dust and comes with a stronger yet slimmer Gorilla Glass Victus front and Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer back.
- Whether the reduction appeared at checkout or as monthly bill credits.
- Whether a new line, upgrade, port-in, postpaid plan, or device financing was required.
- Whether the phone was a Verizon, Sprint, or AT&T model rather than unlocked.
- Whether leaving the carrier ended future credits or made the remaining device balance due.
- Whether taxes were calculated on the pre-discount price and whether a particular storage tier or color was required.
- Whether the model supported the network you intended to use after purchase.
The available 2018 reports did not consistently publish each carrier’s credit schedule. Treat a bill-credit promotion as a commitment to remain eligible, not as an immediate $400 cash rebate.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Which deal fit each buyer?
I want an unlocked phone
The clearest Samsung choices were the unlocked Galaxy S9 at $519.99, S9+ at $639.99, and Note 9 at $799.99. These were approximately $200 reductions and avoided the carrier-specific pricing attached to the $400 offers. The Google Store Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL discounts were the straightforward Pixel alternatives.
I already use Verizon
Start with the reported $400-off Verizon Pixel and Galaxy offers. Confirm that your account qualifies as an upgrade or other eligible activation and compare any financing or bill-credit schedule with your planned time on Verizon.
Best Value
- Please note, this device does not support E-SIM; This 4G model is compatible with all GSM networks worldwide outside of the U.S. In the US, ONLY compatible with T-Mobile and their MVNO's (Metro and Standup). It will NOT work with other CDMA carriers, and it is also not compatible with their MVNO (Visible, Xfinity Mobile, US Mobile, Cricket Wireless, etc).
- Compatibility with certain third-party devices and accessibility accessories, including some hearing aids, may vary depending on manufacturer support, Bluetooth protocols, software compatibility, and regional firmware limitations. For additional hearing aid compatibility information, please refer to Samsung’s official support documentation.
- Camera: 50 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/2.76", 0.64µm, AF | 50 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/2.76", 0.64µm, AF | 2 MP, f/2.4, (macro). Battery: 5000 mAh, non-removable | A power adapter is NOT included.
I want the largest advertised saving
Verizon’s $400 offers were the largest broadly reported headline discounts. Sprint’s “up to $672” S9/S9+ promotion had the biggest advertised number, but it required the most careful total-cost calculation and was not comparable to an unlocked purchase.
I want an immediate discount, not a gift card
Best Buy’s reported $300 qualifying-activation discount was more transparent than a comparable Walmart or Target gift card. It still required activation, so it was not an unlocked, no-conditions price.
I use or plan to use Google Fi
The Pixel 3 and 3 XL package was reported as $200 off plus $200 in Fi credits; the Pixel 2 XL package as $100 off plus $350 in credits. Choose these only if the Fi service, eligibility rules, and credit timing fit your expected usage. A service credit has no value if you would not otherwise pay for that service.
Final 2018 ranking by value type
- Best unlocked Samsung: Galaxy Note 9 at about $799.99, with the S9+ and S9 offering lower prices.
- Best low-cost unlocked flagship: Galaxy S9 at about $519.99.
- Best immediate retailer discount: Best Buy’s reported $300 Samsung discount with qualifying activation.
- Best no-carrier-commitment Pixel path: the Google Store’s reported $150 Pixel 3 or $200 Pixel 3 XL reduction.
- Best carrier headline offer: Verizon’s reported $400-off Pixel and Galaxy promotions, subject to activation and carrier terms.
- Best service-credit package: the Project Fi Pixel promotions, but only for buyers who would use Fi and satisfy its conditions.
For historical context and additional retailer comparisons, see the contemporary Ars Technica deal roundup. None of these November 2018 prices should be presented as available in 2026.
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Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
