Black Friday takes place on November 28 this year, but for most retailers, the sales have already begun or will do so this week. It’s a great time of year to be on the look out for discounts on the latest and greatest tech, meaning if you’ve been thinking about upgrading your smartphone, now is the time.

Phones are much more than calling devices in 2025. They are powerful pocket computers that are do-everything gadgets, so you have to take into account their performance, screen quality, cameras, software and much more besides.

It can make picking your next smartphone a little daunting, but it definitely helps soften the financial blow when you can save a chunk during a sale as major as Black Friday.

As Express.co.uk’s deputy technology editor, I test scores of phones every year, both iPhone and Android, so I know where the best value lies. I’ve been scouring all the latest Black Friday phone deals to bring you the very best in smartphone savings. Below you’ll find my top recommendations not only on quality devices, but those with the most notable savings in the sales.

Google Pixel 9a

NOW £347 – SAVE £152

View the deal at Amazon

One of the best mid-range phones of the year can now be picked up for a budget price. The Google Pixel 9a is the firm’s best-priced phone, and now it’s even cheaper. It offers most of the software smarts of the much pricer Pixel 10 range in a compact body with no camera bump and seven years of software support.

The dual cameras are excellent, it has all-day battery life, and comes in a choice of four colours. Read my full Google Pixel 9a review.

Apple iPhone 14

NOW £495

View the deal at Argos

The iPhone 14 came out in 2022, so it’s three years old at this point, but it originally cost £849 – so £495 is a big saving, and makes it £304 cheaper than the current iPhone 17. Available in red, yellow, blue, black or white, it’s an iPhone that will get updates for another few years and is still very capable, with dual rear cameras, iOS 26 and a bright 6.1-inch OLED screen.

There are newer iPhones out there such as the iPhone 16e for £599, but the iPhone 14 is still a superb phone in 2025 if you must go Apple but are shopping on a tighter budget.

CMF Phone 2 Pro

NOW £179 – SAVE £40

View the deal at Amazon

This Android phone punches well above its price, even more so now it’s less than £180. CMF is the sub-brand of UK tech firm Nothing, and therefore uses Nothing’s excellent, minimalist Android software. The Phone 2 Pro has a unique design with dual cameras and options for modular accessories such as a lanyard and card wallet.

With a large 5,000mAh battery, 120Hz AMOLED screen and 50MP main camera, this doesn’t feel like a cheap phone. I used it, and it’s a quick performer with little lag.

Samsung Galaxy A17 5G

NOW £169.99 – SAVE £30

View the deal at Argos

If you want a Samsung Galaxy phone at the lowest possible price but want to actually be powerful enough to not drive you made, the Galaxy A17 5G is probably it. If all you need is calls, texts, WhatsApp, email, YouTube and maps, among other smartphone functions, it should serve you well. Just don’t expect great gaming performance or top quality cameras.

But with 5G connectivity and 128GB storage and an IP54 water and dust resistance rating, you’re covered for the essentials.

iPhone 16e

NOW £27 per month

View the deal at Sky Mobile

The iPhone 16e is on sale for Black Friday with Sky, where picking up the RRP £599 phone on a contract makes it much more affordable in the near term. The phone has one capable rear camera, 128GB storage, runs Apple Intelligence and the latest iOS 26, and comes in black or white.

The handset costs just £17 per month with a £12 upfront payment on a 36 month contract, plus £10 on top gets you 40GB of 5G mobile data, which Sky says is its “lowest ever price”. Sky says data plan price “may increase during your new minimum term”, which is 12 months. As with any contract, check the terms and conditions and understand how much you’ll spend overall.

Samsung Galaxy S25 FE

NOW £449 – SAVE £200

View the deal at Very

A great saving on a very solid phone, the Samsung Galaxy S25 FE is cheapest at Very this Black Friday. The phone is the entry-level Galaxy S25 but is no slouch, with triple cameras, 128GB storage, tons of Google and Samsung AI features, and seven years of software updates to 2032.

A 4,900mAh battery should keep you going all day, and aside from the processor and cameras this is practically the same as the £799 S25.