Black Friday Galaxy deals 2018: $600 Note 9, $320 Galaxy S9, $300 gift card

T-Mobile carrier deals: Free Galaxy phones, or up to $750 off

Josh Miller/CNET

T-Mobile’s Black Friday deal starts Nov. 16, and… it’s a little complicated, so bear with me. You can get a phone either for free (chosen among select models), or you get up to $750 off the phone’s full price. That’s if you trade in an older phone and add an additional line of service to your plan. So, if you already have one phone line, this deal applies if you add a second line. If you pay for two phone lines, it works when you add a third.

Here’s how the phones shake out:
Free: Galaxy S9, Galaxy S8
Up to $750 off: Note 9, Galaxy S9 Plus, Galaxy S8 Active

Here’s how the bill credits work: If your phone of choice is in the $750-off camp (again, chosen from select models), you’ll receive your trade-in value plus a $500 credit spread out in 24 bill credits. So, if you buy a $900 phone, you’ll get up to $250 off in trade-in value and $500 in bill credits over a two-year spread.

See at T-Mobile

Galaxy Note 9 for $600, S9 Plus for $440 and S9 for $320 on Samsung.com (save $400)

Angela Lang/CNET

A 40 percent savings on a $1,000 phone makes this $600 offer the best deal we’ve seen yet for a 128GB Note 9. Samsung also sheds $400 off the S9 Plus and S9, giving you a Galaxy S9 for $320 and an S9 Plus for $440. The offer locks in Verizon service, and you’ll need to sign on for a device payment plan.

Sale begins

Nov. 22 (Thanksgiving Day)

See at Samsung

Note 9 review

Unlocked Note 9 for $800, S9 Plus for $640, S9 for $520 from Samsung.com (save $200)

Angela Lang/CNET

This deal shaves $200 off the Note 9 (128GB), Galaxy S9 (64GB) or S9 Plus (64GB) when you buy them unlocked from Samsung’s website. That means you’ll spend $800 for the Note 9, $520 for the S9 and $640 for the S9 Plus. That doesn’t count additional savings you might receive if you trade in an old phone as well — Samsung will give you up to $300 when you buy either phone.

Sale dates

Nov. 18, 2018 at 12:01 a.m. ET through Nov. 26.

See at Samsung

Save $200 to $372 off Note 9, S9 Plus, S9 from T-Mobile, AT&T, Sprint

Sarah Tew/CNET

AT&T, T-Mobile and Sprint are also lowering their prices on the Galaxy S9, S9 Plus and Note 9. Savings range from a minimum of $200 off to $372 off the S9 Plus when you pick up Sprint’s service. All the deals originate on Samsung.com.

Sale begins

Nov. 18.

See at Samsung

Get Note 9 for $800, S9 Plus for $640, S9 for $520 (save $200) and get a free starter kit

Sarah Tew/CNET

Buy a Galaxy S9, S9 Plus or Note 9 from Samsung to get $200 off the ticket price and a Starter Kit. Samsung throws in a DeX cable, wireless charger, case and studio-grade AKG headphones (not ear buds). With this deal you don’t get as much money off, but Samsung values the starter kit bundle at $300, so it’s worth looking at if you’re also in the market for a set of over-ear cans.

Sale dates

Nov. 18 at 12:01 a.m. ET through Nov. 26.

See at Samsung

Galaxy S9, Note 9, S9 Plus: Save $300 at Best Buy

Josh Miller/CNET

T-Mobile customers won’t be able to benefit from any of Best Buy’s offers, but $300 off any of Samsung’s premium phones is a pretty good deal. The deal requires a qualified activation, and exact pricing on the phones appear to vary based on the carrier.

Sale dates

Nov. 22 (Thanksgiving Day) at 5 p.m. With activation on AT&T, Sprint or Verizon.

See at Best Buy

Galaxy S9 review

Samsung Galaxy Note 9: $300 Target gift card

Angela Lang/CNET

You pay full price for this superphone for the doodlers, tinkerers and Android lovers, but a $300 gift card is nothing to sneeze at — and if you’re buying the bulk of your gifts at Target, there’s something to say for one-stop shopping during the holiday crush.

Sale dates

Nov. 23 through Nov. 25. Requires qualified activation on AT&T or Verizon. Limit two per guest.

See at Target

Galaxy Note 9 review

Galaxy S9, Note 9, S9 Plus, S8, S8 Plus with a $300 Walmart gift card

Josh Miller/CNET

You’ll have to pay full price for the Galaxy Note 9, S9, S9 Plus, S8 or S8 Plus, but if you’re already a frequent Walmart shopper, $300 of “free” Walmart cash will sweeten the deal. Note that you’ll need to activate the phone in-store with AT&T, Sprint or Verizon in order to qualify for the gift card.

Sale dates

In-store only: Nov. 22 at 6 p.m. through Nov. 23. Schedule an activation appointment at 6 p.m. Activations begin at 8 p.m.

Galaxy S8, unlocked for $450 at Best Buy (save $150)

Josh Miller/CNET

Last year’s Galaxy S8 is a smart alternative to the Galaxy S9 for people hoping to save a few more bucks. This discount for the 64GB unlocked version (black) makes the offer more compelling. The Galaxy S8’s specs are strong enough to take you through 2019 and beyond. An unlocked phone means you can choose your own carrier and you won’t be forced to activate in-store.

Sale dates

Nov. 22 (Thanksgiving Day) at 5 p.m, through Nov. 24.

See at Best Buy

Galaxy S8 review

Galaxy S7 for $200 at Walmart (save $130)

Josh Miller/CNET

Straight Talk customers can snatch up 2016’s prepaid Galaxy S7 for $200. You’ll get it in black, with 32GB of storage.

Sale dates

Online: Nov. 21 at 7 p.m. PT
In-store: Nov. 22 at 6 p.m. through Nov. 23

See at Walmart

Galaxy S7 review

Samsung Galaxy J3 Orbit for $65: Save $35 to $85 at Target, Best Buy

Samsung

An entry-level phone like the Galaxy J3 Orbit won’t offer much in the way of camera prowess or speed, but it’s relatively portable with a 5-inch screen. Target and Best Buy both sell the phone for $65 through a combination of prepaid services. Target partners with Total Wireless, while Best Buy’s offer works with Simple Mobile, TracFone and Total Wireless.

Sale dates

Target: Nov. 22 (Thanksgiving Day).
Best Buy: Nov. 22 at 5 p.m., through Nov. 24.

See at Target

Best Buy

Galaxy J7 Crown for $80, $100 (save $110 at Walmart, $90 at Best Buy)

Samsung

The Galaxy J7 Crown is a midrange phone with a 5.5-inch screen and 13-megapixel cameras on both the front and back. At Walmart, the phone sells for $80 through Straight Talk’s service. At Best Buy, it’ll cost $100 and uses Total Wireless or Simple Mobile’s networks.

Sale dates

Walmart: Online: Nov. 21 at 7 p.m. PT (10 p.m. ET). In-store: Nov. 22 at 6 p.m. through Nov. 23.
Best Buy: Nov. 22 at 5 p.m. through Nov. 24.

See at Walmart

See at Best Buy

Samsung Galaxy J7: Save $90 at Target

One of the more robust entry-level Android phones you can buy, the $100 Galaxy J7 has a 5.5-inch screen and 13-megapixel rear camera. This offer is for Total Wireless service.

Sale starts

Nov. 22 (Thanksgiving Day).

See at Target