Presidents Day lands on the 15th in 2021, bringing with it a nice three-day weekend and — of course — some killer sales. Those Presidents Day sales are not only one of the best times in the first months of the new year to shop for big savings on all sorts of tech, they might actually be your last chance to do so before spring’s seasonal sales roll in, so today’s the day to start looking for some juicy Presidents Day smartphone deals. If your handset is running ragged and it’s time for a new mobile, read on. We’ve got all the best picks from this year’s Presidents Day smartphone sales right here:
Best Presidents Day smartphone sales 2021
FREE BACKPACK ($79 VALUE)
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OnePlus 8 Pro (12GB RAM, 256GB Storage, Unlocked)
$799 $999
The OnePlus 8 Pro is one of our favorite OnePlus phones. It holds its own with the iPhone 12 and Galaxy S20 with its world-class display and buttery smooth performance — and it’s cheaper.
Buy Now
FREE CASE OR SCREEN PROTECTOR
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OnePlus Nord N10 5G
$300
Grab the new OnePlus Nord N10 5G smartphone and score a free case or screen protector (your pick) to sweeten the deal.
Buy at Best Buy
WITH ACTIVATION
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Samsung Galaxy A71 5G (Sprint)
$250 $500
Thanks to its AMOLED+ screen, the A71 has a bigger and brighter display that lets you watch media and take photos/videos clearly. And with a 64mp main camera, you can capture moments in hi-res.
Buy at Best Buy
WITH PORT-IN
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Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G (Xfinity)
$800 $1,200
Port your number to Xfinity to get the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra at a discount. It’s not only a reliable and spacious phone for every task, it can also take beautiful photos with superb camera.
Buy Now
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Samsung Galaxy Note 20 5G and Note 20 Ultra 5G (128GB)
As much as $550 off with trade-in
Samsung currently has one of the best trade-in deals, offering the Galaxy Note 20 for as low as $450 or the Note 20 Ultra for as low as $750. Activate with any major carrier or buy unlocked.
Buy at Samsung
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Motorola Moto G7 Play (Unlocked)
$80 $200
If you don’t want to sign up for a plan right away to get a deal, this unlocked smartphone deal lets you grab the budget-friendly (but very impressive) Moto G7 Play for super cheap.
Buy at Best Buy
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OnePlus Nord N100 (Unlocked) + Free $30 Gift Card
$180
OnePlus has been blowing up the mid-range flagship alternative scene, and the new OnePlus Nord N100 continues that trend — and you can grab it for cheap and get a free Best Buy gift card.
Buy at Best Buy
WITH NEW LINE
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Apple iPhone SE 2020 64GB (Verizon)
Free
You can’t beat a classic — especially when it’s free. New or current Verizon customers who sign up for an unlimited plan can score the new 2020 iPhone SE for no charge.
Buy at Best Buy
Extra $50 off with on-page coupon
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TCL 10L (Unlocked)
$200 $250
TCL has been a big name in the market for budget-friendly flagship alternatives, and the new 6.5-inch TCL 10L is a great plus-sized Android device for those who like larger phones.
Buy at Amazon
FREE $100 SAMSUNG CREDIT
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Samsung Galaxy S21, S21 Plus, and S21 Ultra (Unlocked)
As low as $75 with trade-in
If you have a device to trade and you aren’t interested in carrier BOGO or bill credit rebates, Samsung has a nice trade-in offer when you pre-order the new Galaxy S21, S21 Plus, or S21 Ultra.
Buy at Samsung
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Motorola Moto G7 Plus (GSM Unlocked)
$120 $250
The Moto G series has long been a household name among budget-friendly Android phones, and this Moto G7 Plus is unlocked for GSM carriers including AT&T and T-Mobile.
Buy Now
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Motorola Moto One Action 128GB (Unlocked)
$200 $350
Motorola is the king of budget Android smartphones, and its new Motoe One Action combines a gorgeous screen with great hardware that performs well above what you’d expect for this price.
Buy at B&H Photo
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Motorola Moto G7 Optimo Maxx (Tracfone)
$60
If you’re after a dirt cheap name-brand Android smartphone, it doesn’t get much cheaper than the 6.2-inch Motorola Moto G7 Optimo Maxx.
Buy at Amazon
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Samsung Galaxy S10 128GB (Unlocked)
$700 $750
Activate today and score the incredible Samsung Galaxy S10 for a nice discount.
Buy at Best Buy
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Apple iPhone XS Max, 64GB (Unlocked, Renewed)
$450 $478
With its epic plus-sized screen, the Apple iPhone XS Max is a smartphone you can live in. Save hundreds on this unlocked Amazon Renewed model, allowing you to take yours to a carrier of your choosing.
Buy at Amazon
WITH ACTIVATION
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Google Pixel 4a 5G 128GB (Unlocked)
$450 $500
Google released a 5G version of its Pixel 4a, which was already one of the best values in the smartphone market even without this feature. If you want a flagship alternative with 5G, you’ve found it.
Buy at Best Buy
BUY ONE, GET ONE
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Apple iPhone 11 and iPhone 12 (All Models, T-Mobile)
Save $830 with Trade-In
T-Mobile has a ton of offers for new and current customers on all models of the iPhone 11 and new iPhone 12, with savings of up to $1,000 (via bill credits) when you trade in or buy two devices.
Buy at T-Mobile
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Motorola Edge (256GB, Unlocked)
$450 $700
Feel free to choose the carrier of your choice with this unlocked Motorola Edge. You get an immersive display and a dependable 5G performance all in one smartphone.
Buy at Best Buy
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Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra (128GB, 5G), Cosmic Black
$1,350 $1,400
The Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra lets you take captivating photos and videos while its massive storage capacity lets you keep your growing collection of media.
Buy at Best Buy
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Samsung Galaxy S20 5G 128GB
$950 $1,000
Samsung’s new Galaxy S20 doesn’t re-invent the wheel, and with a nearly bezel-less design this good, that’s just fine. Grab an unlocked model, bring it to your favorite carrier, and save some cash.
Buy at Best Buy
WITH ON-PAGE COUPON
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TCL 10 Pro (Unlocked)
$360 $450
A few years ago we laughed at the cliched term “flagship killer,” but the gorgeous TCL 10 Pro might just change our mind. It’s an incredible value that punches well above its middling price tag.
Buy at Amazon
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Moto G Power (Unlocked)
$170 $250
Capture detailed close-ups and wide panoramas with the Moto G Power’s 16MP triple camera. You can also watch your favorite movies and play games with this phone’s high definition display.
Buy at Best Buy
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Moto G Fast (Unlocked)
$100 $200
The Moto G Fast has an outstanding battery life of two days on a single charge, which means you can stay connected longer. It’s also unlocked which makes it easier for you to choose your carrier.
Buy at Best Buy
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Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 256GB (Unlocked)
$935 $1,380
Flip phones are officially back, and the new Galaxy Z Flip proves that they’re more than just a gimmick. Grab an unlocked model at the lowest price we’ve seen it yet.
Buy at Amazon
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LG K30 (Unlocked)
$90 $140
Looking for a modest-sized affordable Android smartphone? You’re in luck. The LG K30 has everything you need to text, talk, snap, and browse — at home and on the move.
Buy at Best Buy
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Google Pixel 4 64GB (Unlocked, Renewed)
$283 $550
The 2019 Google Pixel 4 is still a fantastic phone and an unbeatable value now that the Pixel 5 is out. New or current Verizon customers can score what might be the best price on one right now.
Buy at Amazon
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Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra (Xfinity)
$600 $1,000
Xfinity is offering new and existing customers a load off the Galaxy S20 Ultra — no trade-in required.
Buy Now
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Samsung Galaxy A11 32GB
Free with unlimited plan
The Galaxy A11 is a very budget-friendly offering from Samsung made even cheaper (that is, totally free) when you sign up for a qualifying AT&T unlimited plan.
Buy at AT&T
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Samsung Galaxy A51 (Unlocked, 128GB)
$349 $400
Boasting an uber-powerful 48-megapixel camera and an AMOLED display, the Samsung Galaxy A51 is the ultimate smartphone for the aspiring photographer without compromising on any of the other features.
Buy at Amazon
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OnePlus 7T Pro 5G McLaren Edition (T-Mobile)
$475 $550
It may not be the latest OnePlus phone any more, but you can still grab the striking McLaren Edition OnePlus 7T Pro 5G smartphone for a discount.
Buy at Amazon
Should you buy a smartphone on Presidents Day?
These Presidents Day smartphone sales are one of the best times in the first quarter of the year to shop for good discounts on pricey electronics, and while the offerings might not be as numerous as those offered during bigger holidays like Memorial Day or July 4, you shouldn’t sleep on them. That’s doubly true if you need a new smartphone, because if you need a new phone, you probably need it soon so you’re not caught unawares when your old handset finally gives up the ghost — only for you to realize too late that you slept on those Presidents Day smartphone deals.
Presidents Day is also the last big sales day before Easter and spring roll around. Our recommendation is not to wait, and to shop these Presidents Day smartphone sales (and for other pricey stuff like Presidents Day laptop deals) while the getting’s good. If you need some more help deciding what smartphone to buy, though, then keep reading.
How to choose a smartphone on Presidents Day
The first two things to decide when choosing a smartphone are what your budget is and which operating system — iOS or Android — you prefer, and unless money is no object or you’re considering switching from one software ecosystem to another, you probably already have these in mind. Smartphones naturally span a huge range of price points, however (and these Presidents Day smartphone deals are no exception), so it’s easy to get choice paralysis even if you’ve already got a rough idea of what you want.
First, what size of phone do you like? Phone displays have increased noticeably in size in recent years with six-inch-plus screens becoming the norm, but with newer releases like the 2020 iPhone SE and the iPhone 12 Mini, smaller mobiles are definitely making a comeback. That gives you some more options if you find today’s handsets to be a little too pocket-unfriendly for your tastes. Unfortunately, however, Android flagship brands like Samsung haven’t fully jumped on this trend yet, so if you want a smaller device, your choices are still a little limited as of 2021.
The best smartphones are also quite expensive, with new flagships regularly launching with retail prices of $1,000 or more. Of course, few of us pay retail prices, and President’s Day smartphone sales and other such events are the best chance to score these pricey mobiles at deep discounts. If you use your phone a lot for things like watching videos, mobile gaming, photography, and making videos, then these high-end devices are likely worth the price thanks to their beefier hardware, superior displays, and advanced camera modules. These expensive flagships also offer the biggest savings potential of all the President’s Day smartphone deals.
That said, there are plenty of great budget and mid-range smartphones available in the $200-$500 range. Most of these are Android devices as the growing number of Android brands creates increased price competition in that market. Nonetheless, Apple has been making some surprising moves in this space lately with affordable releases like the second-gen iPhone SE, and even recent flagship models like the iPhone 11 and iPhone 12 have been pretty reasonably priced (with the Pro and Pro Max models representing the more “high-end” options). Samsung has recently adopted a similar release strategy, dropping mid-range models like the Galaxy S20 FE alongside its more expensive flagships.
Whatever model(s) you’re eyeballing, though, make sure to read our reviews as well as customer reviews to get a fuller picture of things like battery life, durability, user-friendliness, and other everyday use considerations that might not be listed on the spec sheet — and when you’re ready to buy, hit this roundup of the best Presidents Day smartphone deals, as we’ll be keeping it updated regularly as the deals keep rolling in.
We strive to help our readers find the best deals on quality products and services, and we choose what we cover carefully and independently. The prices, details, and availability of the products and deals in this post may be subject to change at anytime. Be sure to check that they are still in effect before making a purchase.Digital Trends may earn commission on products purchased through our links, which supports the work we do for our readers.