The best last minute phone deals from T-Mobile, Verizon, AT&T and other carriers

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Amazon's Big Spring Sale is over. The event introduced major discounts on a wide range of products, from smartphones to laptops and everything in between. During that time, other retailers and wireless carriers rolled out aggressive promotions on flagship models. Many of them are still live. Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile are all providing solid trade-in offers, bill credits, and limited-time incentives.

Also: Amazon Spring Sale live blog 2026: Real-time updates on the best deals

Choosing a new phone can be difficult, since there are many top-notch devices available. Here at ZDNET, we review every major phone release and track deals year-round. If you've been looking for an opportunity to upgrade, this is one of the best times to do so. I looked across multiple carriers to find the best mobile device deals to help make your decision easier. These are my favorite flagship phone deals right now.

Find Amazon Spring Sale deals

Best phone carrier deals right now

• Current price: For free
• Original price: $1,100

If you're looking to upgrade, I highly recommend the iPhone 17 Pro. The model introduces some of the most meaningful changes to the series. It features an aluminum unibody built for optimal heat management and an advanced camera system. The latter houses a larger telephoto lens capable of capturing more detailed images and better low-light photography.

Also: iPhone 17 vs. iPhone 17 Pro: I didn't expect one camera spec to make such a big difference

AT&T is offering several promotions, including a trade-in deal that'll bring the cost down to zero. You'll need to trade in an eligible device and buy a qualifying unlimited plan.

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• Current price: $300
• Original price: $1,400

Powered by the A19 Pro chip, the iPhone 17 Pro Max delivers top-notch performance that few other phones can deliver. It shares most of its features with the previous entry, but boasts a larger 6.9-inch display and a bigger battery, allowing the phone to last up to 39 hours.

Review: iPhone 17 Pro Max

While the iPhone 17 Pro Max isn't available for free, there are plenty of deep discounts available. One of the best avenues right now is through Best Buy's trade-in program. You'll be able to get up to $1,100 off the phone when you trade in an eligible device. To get the deal, you will have to activate the iPhone on either AT&T or Verizon's services. Best Buy is also including several free trials with purchase, including three months of Apple Music.

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• Current price: Free
• Original price: $1,000

The iPhone Air is Apple's thinnest and lightest smartphone to date. It is nearly a third thinner than the iPhone 16 Pro, yet it is anything but fragile. Apple designed its device to be durable. It boasts a frame made of grade 5 titanium, a metal known for its toughness and high corrosion resistance. The back of the phone is protected by Ceramic Shield glass to withstand drops and bumps.

There is more to the device than just its design. It runs on the A19 Pro, the same chipset found in the iPhone 17 Pro, and features a 48MP Fusion camera for high-quality photography.

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• Current price: For free
• Original price: $1,100

If you're looking for an affordable iOS device, I recommend the iPhone 16e. It provides a similar experience to the iPhone Air. This is a sleek smartphone that performs well with its A18 chip, has a vibrant Super Retina XDR display, and a solid battery life of 26 hours of video playback. The nice thing about this deal is that Metro by T-Mobile will charge you $50 a month for service. With the Air model, you'll have to pay $70 per line per month.

I should mention that you won't get the iPhone 16e for free initially. At the beginning, you will have to pay $100 for the device. However, after three months, you'll receive a $100 virtual prepaid Mastercard after your third month of service. So, you'll get the free phone -- just not immediately.

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• Current price: For free (100% off)
• Original price: $1,300

Samsung's Galaxy S26 Ultra is the company's latest flagship, and it lives up to the premium label. The phone is more comfortable to hold than its predecessor, thanks to a lighter build and rounded edges. On the front is a vibrant 6.9-inch AMOLED screen that supports the new Privacy Display feature, which reduces visibility from side angles.

Review: Galaxy S26 Ultra

T-Mobile has a new promotion on the Galaxy S26 Ultra, where you can get the phone totally for free. To qualify, you'll need to add a new line on the Experience Beyond plan, pay the applicable sales tax, plus a $35 connection fee. You'll receive the money back via 24 monthly credits.

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• Current price: For free
• Original price: $1,100

The Galaxy S25 Edge is very similar to the Galaxy S25 Ultra in that they are both high-performing smartphones, but they differ in design. As the name suggests, it is a slim and sleek device that measures 158.2 x 75.6 x 5.8 and weighs 163 grams. It doesn't have the telephoto lens of the Ultra model, although it is still capable of taking great shots from the 200MP camera.

T-Mobile has a new deal for the S25 Edge, where you can get the phone for free if you purchase the Experience Beyond plan, trade in an eligible phone in good condition to the carrier, and pay a $35 connection fee.

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• Current price: $100
• Original price: $1,100

The Galaxy Z Flip7 revamps Samsung's clamshell foldable with a lighter design, a larger cover screen, and an improved battery life. Its 4.1-inch outer display is more vibrant and smoother than before, making it more useful for quick tasks like checking notifications or using AI features.

Review: Galaxy Z Flip 7

AT&T is offering a $1,000 discount on the Galaxy Z Flip7. To get the massive price drop, you'll have to trade in an eligible phone and purchase a qualifying unlimited plan. Savings will be sent via bill credits.

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• Current price: For free
• Original price: $260

If you're on a budget and don't want to pay the expensive monthly bills, I recommend checking out this Metro by T-Mobile offer for the Moto G Stylus. The carrier is allowing new customers to get the phone on a new local number completely for free. All you have to do is sign up for the $ 60-a-month plan with AutoPay active. After that, it'll be $65 for the first month.

Review: Moto G Stylus

I tested the Moto G Stylus back when it was first released, and I had a lot of fun using it. It's a multimedia master, boasting a 6.7-inch AMOLED Super HD display and a booming pair of Dolby Atmos speakers. Around the back is a 50MP Sony LYTIA 700C sensor, capable of taking surprisingly high-quality photos. The camera feels like it belongs on a higher-end model. As the cherry on top, it runs on a Snapdragon 6 Gen chipset for top-notch performance.

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• Current price: $400 (67% off)
• Original price: $1,200

Google's Pixel 10 Pro XL is the tech giant's latest flagship. It runs on the Tensor G5 chip, delivering fast, reliable performance and enabling deep Gemini AI integration across its many features. It features a large 6.8-inch Super Actua display with up to 3,300 nits of brightness, making the screen easy to see even in direct sunlight.

Also: Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra vs. Google Pixel 10 Pro XL: This one's seriously close

New customers who sign up for Google Fi can get an instant $300 discount on the Pixel 10 Pro XL, plus up to $500 back in rebate over 24 months. To qualify, you'll need to activate the phone on a new service plan within 30 days of purchase and keep the line active for at least 120 days. Full terms are available on Google's website.

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• Current price: Get the phone and the Pixel Buds 2a for free
• Original price: $500

Google's Pixel 10a is the company's latest midrange phone, and among the many other affordable options out there, this is one of the best. First of all, it has a 6.3-inch pOLED touchscreen with a 1080 x 2424 resolution and roughly 422 ppi (pixels per inch). In other words, the display's visuals are top-notch. It runs on the Tensor G4 chipset to deliver solid performance and features a camera system that's better than the iPhone 17e's.

T-Mobile is holding a new promotion for the Pixel 10a. You can get both the phone and the Pixel Buds 2a for free if you buy the mobile device on a monthly payment plan.

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More flagship phone deals

• OnePlus 15: $800 (save $100): OnePlus is running a new promotion on its flagship phone. You can get the device for $100 off with a trade-in, plus one of four free gifts.
• Motorola Razr Ultra: $800 (save $700): Motorola's Razr Ultra is the brand's latest flagship phone. Right now, you can get the phone at $700 off and receive free earbuds.
• Samsung Galaxy S26+: $420 (save $680): On top of a $200 discount, shoppers can lop an extra $480 off the Galaxy S26+ with trade-in.

When is Amazon's Spring Sale?

Amazon's Big Spring Sale 2026 will run from March 25-31. Last year, the sale ran during the same dates. It's a multi-day event where the platform rolls out deep discounts on laptops, phones, monitors, smartwatches, headphones, and more, with many promotions going live before it even begins.

Are other retailers participating in Amazon's Spring Sale?

Yes. As I've shown in this roundup, many carriers have rolled out their own discounts. But it doesn't stop there. Other retail platforms like Target, Walmart, and Best Buy attempt to match Amazon's discounts with their own, giving you more options on where to shop. I should point out that Best Buy's Tech Fest recently ended. Although it may be over, new deals are expected to follow.

What types of deals can I find during the Amazon Big Spring Sale?

For 2026, Amazon is spotlighting deals across a wide range of products, including beauty, fashion, home, and tech. Expect discounts of up to 40% or more in certain cases. I've seen a pair of smart home cameras go for 60% off. The sales event includes a daily deals list featuring products from top brands, plus a "Top 100+" list that curates the best seasonal picks.

How did we choose these Amazon Spring Sale deals?

Here at ZDNET, we focus only on smartphone deals we think are truly worth paying for. These are products we would actually want for ourselves, our friends, and family. Our experts typically look for free-carrier deals or large discounts, though we may make exceptions if we believe the promotion is exceptional.

We take customer feedback into account, analyzing user reviews to see what people really liked about their purchase. The goal here is to provide reliable guidance so you can shop smarter and avoid wasting money on smartphones that are lackluster and just not worth buying.