Early Prime Big Deal Days is consistently one of the best times to get an upgrade on your phone without paying full freight. Retailers take advantage of the October event to clear out inventory in advance of holiday flagships, and that means serious discounts on last‑gen flagships and top midrange models as well as good trade‑in promos. What are the remaining Android phones that offer long software support, strong cameras, and a pleasant user experience? And Google is the best answer. And carrier offers remain one of the few ways to drive iPhones down within striking distance — that is, if you can stomach bill credits and lock‑ins — from their pre‑competitive pricing plateau.
Early Deals That Truly Stand Out To Watch Now
Google Pixel 8 and Pixel 8a: A perennial October victor. The 8 brings flagship‑tier cameras and on‑device AI, and a bright OLED at 120Hz, while the 8a is still one of our favorite camera phones in the midrange price range. Both have Google’s seven‑year OS and security commitment, a big deal for long‑term value. For Pixel 8, the best historical near‑low prices appear to be around $549, while for Pixel 8a they look like $349–$399; when you see those, it’s a buy.
Samsung Galaxy S24 and S23 FE: Samsung’s early‑fall promotions regularly challenge or beat Black Friday on the S‑series. The S24 gets over seven years of updates, delivers impressive daylight and low‑light photography, and features a color‑accurate 120Hz LTPO display. The S23 FE is the reliable value play, which comes with a flexible camera and an IP68 rating. Target ranges in line with previous low prices: about $599–$699 for S24 and $399–$499 for S23 FE based on storage.
OnePlus 12 and 12R: For raw speed and quick charging, OnePlus tends to consistently undercut rivals during this event. For computational wizardry, there’s the OnePlus 12, whose Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 underpins what goes on and is complemented by oh‑my‑God‑what‑was‑that charging (check the page for specifics in your region) and an LTPO panel (yes, there’ll be a super high‑brightness option). The 12R, with an older‑gen flagship chip, gives you 90% of the pace for a lot less. OnePlus 12/12R pricing: $699 to $749 for the OnePlus 12 and $399 to $449 for the 12R [We expect these prices to be very close to historical lows].
Motorola Edge and Moto G Stylus 5G (2024): With clean Android and long endurance, these models often see deep cuts. The Edge lineup adds curved OLEDs and a strong main camera, while the G Stylus 5G comes with a convenient pen and two‑day battery life under light use. Decent early‑event pricing is in the $399–$499 range for Edge, around $249–$299 for Stylus 5G.
Apple iPhone deals: Unlocked iPhones don’t frequently enjoy gigantic direct cuts on marketplace sites, but modest $50–$100 discounts will emerge for products from the current and previous generations. When deals are greater, they’re generally through carrier promos — bill credits over 24–36 months on eligible trade‑ins, sometimes “any condition” tiers — or limited gift card bundles. If you lean toward going unlocked, consider a robust gift card offer as part of the effective price.
How to Recognize a Genuine Lowest Price This October
See price history and compare across storage tiers. A 256GB model at the same sticker price as a 128GB base is effectively a better deal, particularly with high‑bitrate 4K video and large app footprints. Previous Prime Day price‑tracking trends have seen last‑gen flagships go up to 15%–30% off MSRP with current‑gen models at around 5%–15%. And Adobe’s retail analytics indicate that October means significant lifts in electronics discounts ahead of Cyber Week, so you’re not “too early” to lock in a low.
Cross‑reference channel incentives. Smartphone sell‑through in the U.S. is promotion‑dependent when new models are launched, according to Counterpoint Research and IDC. That’s because the best deals occasionally match a retail discount with a manufacturer rebate, bonus credits, or trade‑in top‑ups. If you’re charged “extra” at checkout, include that in the real out‑the‑door cost.
Carrier vs. Unlocked Savings: What to Know First
Carrier deals can look amazing on paper, but pay attention to the fine print. Many “free” phone deals are bill credits stretched out over 24–36 months; cancel early and you owe the rest. Confirm the plan requirement matches your usage needs — premium unlimited plans can eat up what you save if you don’t use enough of the extras. If you value flexibility, most unlocked phones at good MVNOs can approach the same monthly costs over time without a contract, and you can resell the phone down the line to get some of that value back.
Possibly consult the compatibility fine print (sub‑6GHz 5G bands for your carrier, or eSIM support if you’re swapping in and out a lot), or whether it supports mmWave should that be significant to your area. Dual‑SIM (a physical card plus eSIM) is now more common and can be useful for travel or when you want to keep work and personal lines separate.
Specs That Matter at This Price Point in 2024
- Display: Seek 120Hz OLED with at least a 1,000‑nit sustained brightness for outdoor readability; LTPO panels won’t waste battery by maintaining high refresh rates when they don’t need to.
- Storage and RAM: 256GB UFS 4.0, big for longevity and safe 4K capture. Budget phones at 128GB are okay if you rely on cloud storage, but check for microSD limits — most flagships no longer have the slot.
- Battery and charging: 4,500–5,000mAh is normal for an all‑day battery life. Prefer USB Power Delivery PPS support for fast charging; proprietary chargers are convenient but not as universal. Wireless charging at 15W+ is a great quality‑of‑life add as well.
- Updates and durability: Seven years of updates on most modern Android flagships, along with IP68 water resistance, will have a significant impact on extending device life. For cameras, a stabilized primary sensor with multi‑frame HDR will beat higher megapixels without stabilization.
Quick Buy Targets to Seal the Deal This October
If you see any of these ballpark prices for Early Prime Big Deal Days, you’re probably at or near a historical low:
- Pixel 8 at or under $549
- Pixel 8a at or under $349
- Galaxy S24 in the range of $599–$699
- Galaxy S23 FE at or under $449
- OnePlus 12 in the range of $699–$749
- OnePlus 12R in the range of $399–$449
- Moto G Stylus 5G around $249–$299
For iPhone 15‑series, outright cuts tend to be $50–$100; beefier value frequently arrives through bill‑credit trade‑ins or significant gift cards.
Making a purchase when the model you want meets the same budget threshold as the color that is available and when it will be delivered doesn’t help you if you need to return it. Even stores with unusually strict return policies tend to become more lenient around the holidays, allowing you to buy now and swap in a better price later if one’s truly better. That’s the best way to play this October’s smartphone deals — without being caught up in pursuit of one last discount.