Most of us take our smartphone everywhere, use it constantly and also need it to last a few years, which means it’s best not to go for those very cheap smartphones. With that said, paying full price for a new smartphone is no one’s idea of a good time. We’ve got great deals, coupons and specials on tons of smartphones from various retailers. Check back frequently to make sure you get the best smartphone deals available.

Choosing a Mobile Carrier

Buying a phone these days is, frankly, a bit complicated. In the past, most mobile carriers subsidized the cost of phones so that consumers could get phones for cheap, or even free. But now most companies have done away with subsidized phones. If you buy through your cell carrier, you can typically either put down the full cost upfront (which is expensive, but often frees you from having to sign a long contract), or you can finance the cost over the course of two to three years, which ties you to the carrier until the phone is paid off. The other option is to buy unlocked smartphones from a third-party seller. This is typically where you’ll see the best deals being made, but just be sure to read the fine print. You want to make sure the phone you are getting is compatible with your carrier’s network and you aren’t being tied to a network or contract that you don’t want.

When it comes to choosing a carrier, you’ll want to take a look at all the major players. Verizon smartphones, AT&T smartphones, Sprint and T-Mobile smartphones are all going to see regular deals depending on the phone you’re looking at and the time of year. Frequently, you’ll get the best deals after a new version of the phone you want has been released. For example, Apple usually releases new iPhones in September, while Samsung smartphones typically come out in March or April. If you can wait until then, you’re likely to get a big discount on an only slightly out-of-date phone. Remember that you don’t have to shop directly with the carrier either. You may find buying a Best Buy smartphone with Verizon as the carrier is cheaper than any of the direct Verizon smartphone deals.

Budget Smartphones

If committing to a long contract or paying high prices from the big name companies just isn’t for you, there are a variety of budget smartphones available. Check out Cricket Wireless smartphones, as well as MetroPCS smartphone deals. You can often find slightly older smartphones for a fraction of the price. Plus, you’ll likely end up paying less for service as well.

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