Keeping up to date on the latest Android hardware can be an expensive hobby.
When manufacturers regularly release phones that cost over $1,000 without anyone batting an eye, upgrading every year is unaffordable for most.
However, there are plenty of trade-in deals, sales, discounts, and carrier offers that can turn these outrageous prices relatively affordable.
While you’re probably aware of some ways to save money on a new phone, it’s easy to get sucked into expensive carrier deals that seem affordable on the surface.
The best way to save money on a new flagship phone is a two-pronged approach. First, research the best no-strings-attached deals. Second, sell your Android phone separately.
While this approach isn’t always the best, it helps avoid later expenses.
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Why I don’t rely on trade-in deals or carrier offers
They look good on the surface, but you’ll struggle to maximize savings
Every time Google, Samsung, or Apple launches a new flagship, they will usually offer a variety of discounts and offers to reduce the sticker price.
These deals are usually combined with trade-in offers, so you can combine a discount and a trade-in deal for a significant discount.
However, these offers are only available for a limited time, and other factors can contribute to reduced discounts.
For example, Samsung offered a trade-in rebate of up to $900 off a new Galaxy S26 or $150 store credit without a trade-in when the phone launched in March 2026. Google sent select customers $50 to $100 coupons for a new Pixel 10a, but there were no special trade-in offers.
Thanks to limited-time promotions like these, launch day can often feel like the best time to snap up a deal on a new Android phone.
Manufacturers will also offer deals through carriers, but there’s usually a catch. For example, Google is offering a free Pixel 10a phone if you trade in an eligible phone, which includes the Pixel 6, iPhone 13, and Galaxy S21 or newer.
The catch is that you need to sign up for Verizon’s Unlimited Plan for 36 months, which is a poor value for most people.
Instead of relying on these limited-time deals, I separate the actions of buying a phone and selling one. While this occasionally results in saving less money, I’m never tied down with expensive phone contracts.
Buy an unlocked phone through an MVNO with a prepaid plan
MVNOs offer fantastic deals on mobile devices
Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs) offer fantastic discounts for phones, although on the surface, these deals look much the same as the carrier deals we mentioned earlier.
However, as buying a phone on a prepaid plan means you’re not locked into a contract, you have the flexibility to switch to a cheaper contract while still taking advantage of hardware discounts.
For example, at the time of writing, Cricket Wireless is currently offering the Galaxy S26 for $400 if you switch to their Supreme Unlimited Plan ($60 a month). But as it’s a prepaid plan, you can cancel after a month and switch to a cheaper plan that’s more suitable for you.
The phone is unlocked, so you can switch to any carrier without hassle. That’s a $430 saving from buying it straight from Samsung, even taking the month of Supreme Unlimited into account.
You could technically beat it by trading in a Galaxy S25 Ultra for $500 of credit, but you’ll likely have lost money overall due to the S25 Ultra’s $1,300 retail price.
This is the method I use to buy every new phone, but there is a catch. While MVNO’s offer a fantastic variety of details on new phones, you have to keep an eye on their offers to catch them while they last.
So when I’m ready to upgrade, I check my list of preferred MVNO retailers weekly until a deal pops up. Next, it’s time to find a place to sell your phone.
Sell your phone directly to maximize profits
Don’t rely on trade-in websites that offer poor value
Unlike the MVNO “hack,” there’s no trick to getting the best value for your phone.
However, I recommend avoiding all carriers, including MVNOs, and manufacturers when trading in your device.
This is because carriers and manufacturers usually require you to simultaneously buy a new phone or have an active plan to trade in a device.
There are plenty of exceptions, Verizon being a notable one, but often the best solution is to sell your phone directly.
Rather than messing with the vagaries of Facebook Marketplace or eBay, dedicated electronics marketplaces like Swappa are best.
Swappa is the best place to sell phones directly to other people, cutting out the intermediary and maximizing your profits.
Other websites will accept your devices with minimal fuss, but you won’t make as much. For example, a 128GB Pixel 8 in good condition sells for a minimum of $210 on Swappa, while trade-in websites won’t offer much more than $150.
While services like Swappa are less convenient, the added profit more than makes up for it.
Don’t let convenience get in the way of saving hundreds of dollars
Buying a new phone through a carrier with a trade-in deal is the easiest way to buy a new phone and get rid of your old one.
You’ll certainly save money this way, but you’re probably missing out on saving hundreds of dollars.
That’s not to say launch day deals are bad; there have been fantastic offers in the past, but you should never consider them to be the final word on savings.
Researching deals through MVNOs and selling your old phone directly maximize your profit while not tying you down to a contract. Just make sure you get the phone plan that saves you the most money at the same time.
