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Amazon’s Big Spring Sale is less than a week away. The event introduces major discounts on a wide range of products, from smartphones to laptops and everything in between. But Amazon isn’t the only place offering great deals this spring. Other retailers and wireless carriers have rolled out aggressive promotions on flagship phones. Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile are all providing solid trade-in offers, bill credits, and limited-time incentives.
Also: The best early Amazon Spring Sale phone deals
Choosing a new phone can be a difficult decision, since there are many top-notch devices out there. Here at ZDNET, we review every major phone release and track deals year-round. If you’ve been looking for an opportunity to upgrade, this is one of the best times to do so. I looked across multiple carriers to find the best mobile device deals to help make your decision easier. These are my favorite flagship phone deals right now.
Find Amazon Spring sale deals
Best phone carrier deals right now
- Current price: For free
- Original price: $1,100
If you’re looking to upgrade, I highly recommend the iPhone 17 Pro. The model introduces some of the most meaningful changes to the series. It features an aluminum unibody built for optimal heat management and an advanced camera system. The latter houses a larger telephoto lens capable of capturing more detailed images and better low-light photography.
Also: iPhone 17 vs. iPhone 17 Pro: I didn’t expect one camera spec to make such a big difference
AT&T is offering several promotions, including a trade-in deal that’ll bring the cost down to zero. You’ll need to trade in an eligible device and buy a qualifying unlimited plan.
- Current price: $300
- Original price: $1,400
Powered by the A19 Pro chip, the iPhone 17 Pro Max delivers top-notch performance that few other phones can deliver. It shares most of its features with the previous entry, but boasts a larger 6.9-inch display and a bigger battery, allowing the phone to last up to 39 hours.
Review: iPhone 17 Pro Max
While the iPhone 17 Pro Max isn’t available for free, there are plenty of deep discounts available. One of the best avenues right now is through Best Buy’s trade-in program. You’ll be able to get up to $1,100 off the phone when you trade in an eligible device. To get the deal, you will have to activate the iPhone on either AT&T or Verizon’s services. Best Buy is also including several free trials with purchase, including three months of Apple Music.
- Current price: For free
- Original price: $1,300
Samsung’s Galaxy S26 Ultra is the company’s latest flagship, and it lives up to the premium label. The phone is more comfortable to hold than its predecessor, thanks to a lighter build and rounded edges. On the front is a vibrant 6.9-inch AMOLED screen that supports the new Privacy Display feature, which reduces visibility from side angles.
Review: Galaxy S26 Ultra
T-Mobile has a new promotion on the Galaxy S26 Ultra, where you can get the phone for free. To qualify, you’ll need to sign up for the Experience Beyond plan and pay a $35 connection fee.
- Current price: $900
- Original price: $1,200
Google’s Pixel 10 Pro XL is the tech giant’s latest flagship. It runs on the Tensor G5 chip, delivering fast, reliable performance and enabling deep Gemini AI integration across its many features. It features a large 6.8-inch Super Actua display with up to 3,300 nits of brightness, making the screen easy to see even in direct sunlight.
Also: Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra vs. Google Pixel 10 Pro XL: This one’s seriously close
New customers who sign up for Google Fi can get an instant $300 discount on the Pixel 10 Pro XL, plus up to $500 back in rebate over 24 months. To qualify, you’ll need to activate the phone on a new service plan within 30 days of purchase and keep the line active for at least 120 days. Full terms are available on Google’s website.
- Current price: For free
- Original price: $1,100
The Galaxy Z Flip7 revamps Samsung’s clamshell foldable with a lighter design, a larger cover screen, and an improved battery life. Its 4.1-inch outer display is more vibrant and smoother than before, making it more useful for quick tasks like checking notifications or using AI features.
Review: Galaxy Z Flip 7
T-Mobile is currently offering the 256GB model for free with an eligible trade-in and signing up for the Experience Beyond plan. The 512GB model also qualifies for the same promotion; however, availability is limited and will require backordering.
More flagship phone deals
- OnePlus 15: $800 (save $100): OnePlus is running a new promotion on its flagship phone. You can get the device for $100 with a trade-in plus one of four free gifts.
- Google Pixel 10a: For free (save $500): Google is letting interested shoppers buy its latest midrange model at no cost. You’ll need to sign up for Google Fi and get $500 back over 24 monthly credits.
- iPhone Air: $70 (save $830): The iPhone Air is Apple’s thinnest and lightest phone yet. AT&T is offering a $830 discount with an eligible trade-in and a qualifying unlimited plan.
When is Amazon’s Spring Sale?
Amazon’s Big Spring Sale 2026 will run from March 25-31. Last year, the sale ran during the same dates. It’s a multi-day event where the platform rolls out deep discounts on laptops, phones, monitors, smartwatches, headphones, and more, with many promotions going live before it even begins.
How did we choose these early Amazon Spring Sale deals?
Here at ZDNET, we focus only on smartphone deals we think are truly worth paying for. These are products we would actually want for ourselves, our friends, and family. Our experts typically look for free-carrier deals or large discounts, though we may make exceptions if we believe the promotion is exceptional.
We take customer feedback into account, analyzing user reviews to see what people really liked about their purchase. The goal here is to provide reliable guidance so you can shop smarter and avoid wasting money on smartphones that are lackluster and just not worth buying.
Amazon Spring Sale 2026
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