Best smartphone deals in the UK and US for August 2024

As you probably know, smartphones are expensive.

That’s especially true for flagship phones, but even budget and mid-range phones represent a significant investment. You either have to come up with the money to buy it outright (and then pay for a SIM deal), or you have to sign up for a long and often expensive contract.

With that in mind, it’s no surprise that you’re looking for a good deal on your next smartphone. And if you’re based in the UK or US, you’ve come to the right place.

We have fully tested all the devices below and can recommend them, even at full price. But the deals below often ensure that they get a lot of bang for their buck.

It’s worth noting that these deals are accurate at the time of writing, but are subject to change. Consider a refurbished phone deal for a guaranteed big discount.

Best smartphone deals in Britain

Best smartphone deals in the US

Where to find the best deals on smartphones

The simple answer is that the best places to buy phones are usually the same places where you buy most of your technology: electronics stores and department stores. You can also contact carriers and networks, not to mention go directly to manufacturers’ websites. Here are some ideas to get you started:

British stores

American stores

Which phone should I buy?

Which phone is best? The answer lies in how you use your phone, your budget and what you want to get out of your phone. Tech Advisor has a number of buying guides to help you decide what’s next. Below we’ve outlined some of the key points and what you can expect from each buying guide.

Find the best phone for you

If you’re looking for deals on the best smartphone on the market, there are a few things you may need to consider. First, should you buy an iPhone or an Android? Should you buy an unlocked subscription or a paid monthly subscription? And also: how do you choose the right SIM card?

Of course, the best phones on the market often also have premium prices. Samsung’s Galaxy S phones and Apple’s iPhones may seem like the best choice, but if you’re on a budget, there are also plenty of other powerful options available for less than premium prices.

Some of the most impressive phones on the market today – like the Xiaomi 14 Ultra, OnePlus 12 and Honor Magic 6 Pro – are all from Chinese brands.

Chinese phones can be powerful, often with dual SIM support, and usually at competitive prices. On the other hand, some products may be difficult to return if there are problems and you may have to pay import duties depending on where you get them from.

However, not all of them are available worldwide, with more options in Europe than in North America.

Buy a second-hand iPhone

Buying a second-hand or refurbished phone is another way to score big, often on premium handsets like the iPhone. Our colleagues at Macworld have put together their own guide to the best way to buy a used iPhone.

Also see our guide to the best refurbished phone deals.

Best Dual SIM Phones

Our review of the best dual-SIM phones goes through what you should look for before purchasing such a device; such as which SIM cards are supported and whether both SIM cards are 4G and/or 5G compatible.

We also explain the difference between dual-standby and dual-active SIM support. This affects whether you can actively receive calls from both SIM cards at the same time.

Best basic phones

If you’re looking for a phone that can do the basics (minimum calling, texting and surfing), you can find several phones for under £50, with cheap monthly rates too.

In our guide to the best basic phones, we explain what you can expect in terms of specs, storage, audio and camera quality from a smartphone or feature phone.

What phone deals are available?

Retailers often have deals on tons of handsets, so keep your eyes peeled, not to mention that Amazon sells SIM-free phones at very attractive prices from time to time.

Samsung discounts

Samsung is currently offering a trade-in program that can get you hundreds off the company’s latest and greatest smartphones (depending on the value of the device you’re trading in). Get Samsung’s trade-in offers.

iPhone discounts

Although Apple itself does not often offer discounts, like Samsung, it does offer them its own trade-in program. If you have an older iPhone, you can transfer its value to a new iPhone, with Apple currently offering hundreds of discounts depending on your phone.

Android discounts

Many retailers are also making significant savings on budget and mid-range handsets from the likes of Motorola, OnePlus, Nothing and more.

If you want to buy a phone outright rather than on contract, Amazon has some of the biggest bargains, but make sure you check the specs carefully: Third-party sellers sometimes use Amazon to move international stocks, which can vary slightly from what you’ll find in would find the shops.

If you find yourself missing out on Amazon’s Lightning deals, which are only valid for a few hours and offer limited inventory, we recommend signing up for Amazon’s 30-day free trial of Prime, which will give you access to deals 30 minutes before everyone else.

Plus, with the Prime trial you get free next-day delivery, as well as access to the Prime Video streaming service and much more.