As the summer heats up and the July 4th holiday approaches, it’s the perfect time to upgrade your phone and take advantage of some amazing deals. From discounts on popular smartphones to free accessories, there are plenty of bargains to be found. Here are the top phone deals for the 4th of July that you don’t want to miss.
Buying a new smartphone can be quite the journey, with hundreds of models, configurations, designs, and price points to shop from. Even as a phone reviewer whose SIM card has switched between an iPhone, Samsung Galaxy, Google Pixel, and others for years now, I still chalk up an imaginary decision tree when making recommendations to family and friends — that’s how complicated it can get.
Also: Best early Prime Day tech deals live now
So when it comes to vetting smartphone deals, I try to find offers that will save readers a significant amount of money on a handset that’s been personally tested and recommended. Right now, there are plenty of phone offers available for July 4th weekend, and I’ve gathered five of my favorite offers that will please anyone looking to upgrade their device, whether they’re on an iPhone or Android. One of the best offers I’ve seen so far is a $200 discount on the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra, which comes with 256GB and several color options.
Summer Phone Deals and Discounts: With the summer heat and July 4th holiday, it's an ideal time to upgrade your phone by taking advantage of special discounts and offers on popular smartphones.
Complexity of Choosing a Smartphone: Selecting the right smartphone involves navigating hundreds of models, configurations, and price points, making the decision process quite complicated even for experienced reviewers.
Top Phone Deals for July 4th Weekend: Numerous significant discounts are available for both iPhone and Android devices, including substantial price cuts and free accessories, making it a prime opportunity to upgrade your device.
Highlighted Smartphone Offers: Notable deals include $200 off on the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra, $100 savings on the Nothing Phone 3, and discounts on Motorola Razr Plus and Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge, among others.
Special Free Phone Promotions: Major carriers like Verizon, T-Mobile, and AT&T offer free or heavily discounted phones, such as the iPhone 16 or iPhone 16 Pro, when switching plans or trading in qualifying devices, often requiring long-term commitments.
My favorite July 4th phone deals
Nothing Phone 3 (16 + 512GB)
for $799 (save $100 at Amazon)
- Current price: $799
- Original price: $899
Nothing’s newest phone just dropped (seriously, our expert is still in London post-launch), and there’s already a preorder offer you can take advantage of. Right now, you can save $100 on the 512GB version, which brings the phone to $799 — the cost of the 256GB model. You’re essentially getting a free storage upgrade with this offer. The Nothing Phone 3 will be released on July 15, 2025.
Also: I tried the controversial Android phone that’s got the internet buzzing – and left impressed
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra
for $1,099 (save $200 at Best Buy)
- Current price: $1,099
- Original price: $1,299
The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra is one of the best phones overall, with a large 6.8-inch AMOLED display that’s treated with an anti-glare coating. We’ve also been very impressed with the S25 Ultra’s camera output, which features a 200MP main lens capable of capturing far distances without much loss in detail and color. For a limited time, you can pick up the handset at a notable $200 discount. You’ll just have to be OK with a larger-than-average handset.
Also: Why the Samsung S25 Ultra is still my favorite Android phone this year – especially at this price
Motorola Razr Plus (2024)
for $799 (save $200 at Amazon)
- Current price: $799
- Original price: $999
While the Motorola Razr Plus (2024) is no longer the latest model — there’s even a $1,300 Razr Ultra that exists now — it’s one of my favorite flip phones from last year. In fact, for most of 2024, I had the Razr Plus listed above its closest competitor, the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6, for its well-roundedness, from the larger external and internal displays to the flagship Qualcomm processor, to the fashionable back covers.
Review: Motorola Razr Plus (2024)
It’s even better that you can now buy the phone at a $200 discount, bringing it closer to the standard slab phone pricing, but with a more innovative form factor. At the time of writing, Motorola’s four colorways for the Razr Plus are on sale. I’d recommend the Hot Pink, which has a textured backing that gives the phone some much-needed grip.
Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge
for $999 (save $220 at Amazon)
- Current price: $999
- Original price: $1,219
Samsung’s latest smartphone pitch features a large 6.7-inch screen but is super-thin and weighs just 163 grams. For reference, the iPhone 16 Plus, with a similar-sized screen, weighs 199 grams. This sleek, ultra-thin design makes the new Galaxy S25 Edge a standout in a crowded smartphone market, and I expect other manufacturers to release something similar soon.
Review: Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge
At a regular price of $1,219, you can buy the new Samsung phone at a $220 discount for July 4th. That gets you 512GB of storage, the latest Snapdragon 8 Elite processor, 12GB of RAM, and a 200MP wide lens similar to Samsung’s more expensive S25 Ultra model.
Apple iPhone 16
for free (save $799 at Verizon)
- Current price: Free with eigible Unlimited plan
- Original price: $799
Carriers ramp up their trade-in/installation promotions as we end the school year and head into the summer. Case in point: Verizon is currently running a summer upgrade program that nets you an iPhone 16 at no retail cost. Right now, when you trade in a qualifying phone and agree to a 36-month installment plan with Unlimited Ultimate, Plus, or Welcome, the carrier will cover the cost of the iPhone.
Review: Apple iPhone 16
Of course, this means you’ll have to commit to Verizon for at least three years. But on the bright side, you’ll be using a reasonably reliable and long-lasting iPhone 16, which features a handy 6.1-inch display, the latest A18 chipset to power Apple Intelligence features, and more.
Apple iPhone 16 Pro
for free (save $999 at T-Mobile)
- Current price: Free
- Original price: $999
T-Mobile is running an even more aggressive iPhone deal on its website. The carrier offers the Pro model “On Us” when you agree to a 24-month installment plan under an Experience Beyond or Go5G Next data plan. There’s no qualifying trade-in required here, meaning you can keep your existing device as a backup, and the commitment time is just two years instead of three. (You’re also signing up to T-Mobile for this deal, for better or worse.)
Review: Apple iPhone 16 Pro
I tested the iPhone 16 Pro when it was released last year and have used it as my secondary phone since then. If photo and video capture are near the top of your phone features tier list, the flagship iPhone model is worth the money.
Nothing Phone 2a Plus
for $329 (save $94 at Amazon)
- Current price: $335
- Original price: $429
Of all the phone brands I’ve tested in recent years, Nothing stands out for its design-forward approach to hardware and software. The brand’s Phone 2a Plus model, which I tested last year, proved an exceptional midrange offering, besting Google, Samsung, and Apple’s offerings in the sub-$500 category. Right now, for just $349, you’re getting a 6.7-inch AMOLED display, a 5,000mAh battery with 50W wired charging, Nothing’s signature Glyph Lights for notifications, and more.
Review: Nothing Phone 2a Plus
As for the limitations, remember that Nothing phones perform best when connected to a GSM network, meaning AT&T and T-Mobile users will benefit the most. If you’re on Verizon or Visible, I’d highly advise checking with your carrier regarding network support before committing.
