Cyber Monday 2024 was December 2, but most of the major phone promotions were already live during Black Friday week and continued for several days afterward. The largest advertised savings usually required a trade-in, a new line, a number transfer, or a premium unlimited plan. The clearest deals were generally discounted unlocked phones.
This is a historical guide to U.S. offers reported during the 2024 shopping period. Those promotions have expired and should not be treated as current prices.
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Quick verdict
| Buyer | Best 2024 direction | Why | Main catch |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unlocked Android buyer | Google Pixel 9 or a discounted OnePlus phone | Lower, clearer upfront cost and easier carrier switching | Verify seller, warranty, model and carrier compatibility |
| iPhone shopper | iPhone 16 carrier promotion | Potentially the largest headline savings | Trade-in, eligible plan, activation and long bill-credit commitment |
| Premium Android buyer | Galaxy S24 Ultra at Best Buy or a carrier offer | Strong retailer and carrier value | Best Buy activation pricing is not the same as unlocked pricing |
| Prepaid shopper | Motorola Razr 2024 at Cricket | Reported price of $99 for an unusually inexpensive foldable | Service, eligibility and unlocking restrictions |
| Family adding lines | T-Mobile’s four-line and multiple-iPhone promotion | Potentially attractive when several lines were needed anyway | Plan cost matters more than the phone headline |
There was no single “best” deal. A carrier phone advertised as free could cost more over time than a discounted unlocked phone paired with a cheaper wireless plan.
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The best iPhone 16 deals
Carrier promotions were the main Cyber Monday 2024 opportunity for the iPhone 16 family. Apple said customers could save up to $1,000 through carrier promotions, but that was a maximum promotional figure—not an automatic discount for every buyer. It depended on the carrier, trade-in device, plan and eligibility. Apple’s announcement provides the original context.
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Reported deal coverage included iPhone 16 promotions worth up to about $830 in trade-in credits at Best Buy when activating an eligible AT&T or Verizon line. Another reported Boost Mobile offer put an iPhone 16 at one cent upfront through Amazon, tied to a $65-per-month unlimited plan. These were fundamentally different offers: one relied on activation and trade-in credits, while the other made the low phone price conditional on ongoing service.
Who should consider it
- Existing customers already planning to keep the same carrier.
- Switchers who qualify for the required plan and can stay through the credit period.
- Families adding lines whose total service cost is reasonable even without the phone promotion.
Who should skip it
- Anyone likely to change carriers before financing credits finish.
- Shoppers using a low-cost prepaid or MVNO plan who would need to move to expensive unlimited service.
- Buyers without an eligible trade-in who are comparing only the maximum advertised credit.
For a clearer ownership arrangement, an unlocked iPhone purchased directly from Apple or a retailer was easier to compare. Older iPhone 14 and iPhone 15 models were also worth considering when the priority was joining Apple’s ecosystem at a lower hardware cost.
| Priority | Likely better 2024 direction |
|---|---|
| Latest iPhone features | iPhone 16 |
| Lowest Apple-device price | iPhone 14 or iPhone 15 |
| Unlocked ownership | Direct Apple or retailer purchase |
| Maximum headline savings | Carrier trade-in promotion |
| No trade-in | Direct unlocked discount or prepaid offer |
Samsung Galaxy S24 deals
Best Buy coverage reported the Galaxy S24 Ultra at approximately $949 during the Cyber Monday period. That was the kind of offer that could be compared relatively directly with other unlocked or retailer phone prices, provided the listing’s model, storage, condition and activation terms matched.
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Samsung ran a broader Cyber Week promotion covering phones, accessories and other products. Samsung.com trade-in offers and bundles could be valuable, but an accessory bundle is not the same as a lower phone price. Verizon also promoted Galaxy S24+ offers alongside iPhone 16 Pro and Pixel 9 Pro deals, including trade-in-based “on us” promotions and gifts. The exact plan and eligibility terms varied by offer.
Compare the S24 options in separate categories:
- Unlocked or direct retailer price: clearer total cost and easier switching.
- Samsung.com trade-in: potentially strong credit, but dependent on device condition and the promotion’s terms.
- Best Buy activation price: may require a new activation or eligible carrier line.
- Carrier financing: often uses monthly credits and may require a qualifying plan for 24 or 36 months.
Do not compare a carrier “free S24+” directly with a $949 retail phone unless you also compare the required wireless service and the cost of leaving early.
Google Pixel 9: the strongest unlocked Android angle
The Pixel 9 stood out because it appeared in both straightforward unlocked discounts and carrier subsidy offers. Tom’s Guide reported a Pixel 9 discount of about $500 through Mint Mobile, while other coverage reported unlocked retail or marketplace pricing in the mid-$500 range. The exact price, seller and stock status varied.
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The Google Store sold the Pixel 9 unlocked, with physical SIM or eSIM support depending on compatible-carrier requirements. That made it a useful baseline: calculate the phone’s actual purchase price, then add the cost of the wireless plan you would otherwise choose.
Google Store and carrier promotions for the Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro and Pixel 9 Pro XL could instead involve trade-in credits, financing or bundles. Marketplace listings should not be treated as equivalent to Google Store or Best Buy listings without checking the seller, U.S. model number, warranty, return policy and unlocked status.
Budget, prepaid and value-phone offers
Motorola Razr 2024 at Cricket
Tom’s Guide reported the Motorola Razr 2024 at $99 through Cricket Wireless. This was a notable prepaid promotion, not necessarily an unlocked, no-strings-attached price. Before buying, a shopper needed to confirm whether the offer required a new line, port-in, minimum service period, activation payment or a particular unlocking timeline.
It could be one of the most compelling low-cost foldable offers for a prepaid customer who already wanted Cricket service. It was a poor fit for someone who needed an immediately unlocked phone or planned to leave the network soon.
OnePlus value offer
NBC Select reported a OnePlus phone at approximately $249.99, reduced from $299.99 at Best Buy, and approximately $299.99 at OnePlus. The archived report’s exact model should be checked rather than treating the figures as applying to every OnePlus phone.
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Best deals by shopper type
Best for an unlocked buyer
Start with the Pixel 9 or a verified OnePlus retailer discount. An unlocked purchase generally avoids bill-credit forfeiture and makes it easier to use a cheaper carrier. Compare the complete phone price, taxes, warranty and plan—not just the sale sticker.
Best for an existing carrier customer
Use only offers explicitly available to existing customers. Do not assume that a new-customer or switcher promotion applies. A trade-in promotion can make sense if you already have the required plan and would stay with the carrier for the full credit period.
Best for a switcher
Compare the cost of the new plan, taxes, activation charges and remaining phone balance over the required term. The phone discount is not a saving if the new service costs substantially more than your current service.
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Look first at direct unlocked discounts, older iPhones, budget Android phones and prepaid promotions. A “free” carrier phone without a trade-in may still require a new line, port-in or premium plan.
Best for families
T-Mobile advertised four lines for $100 per month and four iPhone 16 phones on eligible terms in its November 20, 2024 holiday announcement. That offer required close reading of plan and eligibility rules. It was potentially useful for a family that needed four lines, but not necessarily for a single shopper adding unnecessary service.
Best premium phone
The Galaxy S24 Ultra’s reported Best Buy price was the clearest premium Android reference point. For iPhone buyers, an iPhone 16 carrier promotion offered the largest possible headline savings, but only after accounting for the required trade-in and service commitment.
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How “free” phones and trade-in credits worked
A carrier “free phone” usually meant the device payments were offset by promotional credits. The typical sequence was:
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- The carrier evaluated your old device, if a trade-in was required.
- The promotional value was divided into monthly credits.
- The credits continued only while the qualifying line, plan and financing agreement remained active.
- If you cancelled, changed to an ineligible plan or otherwise broke the promotion’s terms, future credits could stop and the remaining device balance could become due.
T-Mobile’s archived 2024 terms explicitly described the risk of losing credits after cancelling before the promotion ended. Other carriers used their own offer-specific rules, so one carrier’s terms should not be generalized to another.
“Up to $1,000 off” could mean the maximum value of a qualifying trade-in spread across monthly payments. It might also require a premium unlimited plan, a new line or port-in, a particular storage tier and a device in acceptable condition. It usually did not mean $1,000 in cash off the checkout price.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Calculate the real cost before choosing a carrier deal
Use this framework:
Total commitment cost − cost of equivalent current service − trade-in value − fees = approximate incremental cost of the promotion.
For example, compare a “free” phone tied to a $90 monthly plan with a $600 unlocked phone paired with a $25 monthly plan over the same period. The relevant question is not whether the carrier waives the device payments; it is whether the extra service cost, lock-in and fees are lower than buying the phone outright.
Also treat gift cards carefully. A $100 retailer gift card is useful if you would shop there anyway, but it is not necessarily equivalent to $100 in cash—particularly if it arrives later, cannot be used toward the phone or depends on activation.
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What to check before checkout
- Is the phone unlocked, carrier-locked, new, open-box or refurbished?
- What exact model, storage capacity and U.S. model number are included?
- Is the advertised price before or after activation?
- Is a trade-in required, and what happens if inspection lowers its value?
- Does the offer require a new line, number port, premium plan or minimum service period?
- How many months do bill credits continue?
- What happens if you change plans, upgrade early or cancel service?
- Are taxes charged on the full retail price?
- Are activation, upgrade or connection fees extra?
- When does a promotional gift card arrive, and where can it be used?
- What is the return window and what happens to the trade-in if you return the phone?
- For marketplace listings, who is the seller and what warranty and return protections apply?
Protect yourself during a trade-in
Photograph the old phone from every side, record its IMEI, document the screen and body condition, factory-reset it, disable activation locks and retain the shipping receipt and tracking information. A cracked screen, liquid damage, failed diagnostics, incorrect model or enabled activation lock can cause a carrier to reject or reduce the trade-in.
Was Cyber Monday better than Black Friday?
Usually, shoppers did not need to wait specifically for Monday. T-Mobile announced holiday promotions on November 20, Walmart’s second event began online November 25, and Verizon was already promoting major offers in November. Tom’s Guide’s roundup was updated through December 4, while TechRadar treated the post-Cyber Monday period as a final chance to buy remaining deals.
The practical lesson from 2024 was to buy when the required terms and inventory worked for you. Waiting could change colors, stock, trade-in values or plan eligibility without producing a better phone price.
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Bottom line
The best Cyber Monday phone deal in 2024 depended on how you intended to pay. The Pixel 9 and verified OnePlus discounts were among the clearest unlocked Android choices; the iPhone 16 offered the biggest potential carrier savings; the Galaxy S24 Ultra was a strong premium Android retailer option; and the $99 Motorola Razr 2024 was notable for prepaid shoppers. But the headline “free” and “up to” prices were conditional. Compare the full phone-and-service commitment, not just the advertised credit.
Because Cyber Monday 2024 ended on December 2, 2024, all prices and promotions above are historical. Use current retailer and carrier pages only to find present-day offers, not to assume that these 2024 terms remain available.
Tom’s Guide’s 2024 roundup and TechRadar’s archived coverage provide dated deal context. Official promotion context is also available from T-Mobile, Verizon and Samsung.
Quick Recap
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.
