Advertisement

SKIP ADVERTISEMENT
  1. Cyber Monday 2023
  2. Deals and sales

Cyber Monday Phone Deals: Google Pixel 8, Android, and More

Updated
A collage of some of the best Cyber Monday phone deals, including a phone mount and two phones.
Photos: Wirecutter Staff

By Wirecutter Staff

Phones tend to be expensive. Practically everybody needs one. And yet precious few of us manage to get one on sale.

Luckily, we’ve found a handful of worthwhile Cyber Monday deals that will put one of our smartphone picks in your hand at a significant savings. Here they are.

Advertisement

SKIP ADVERTISEMENT
A Google Pixel 8 phone.
Photo: Connie Park

Google Pixel 8 (128 GB) — Runner-Up
Best Buy deal price: $550; street price: $700
Target deal price: $550; street price: $700
Amazon deal price: $550; street price: $700

What we like: Our new top pick for the best Android smartphone offers the best version of Android with guaranteed security updates through fall 2030. One of the best smartphone cameras we’ve tested. Excellent build quality. 128 GB internal storage, with crisp 6.2-inch OLED display and solid wrap-around aluminum frame.

Other things to know: More expensive than previous models. Videos can often look a little grainy but good color reproduction. First deal we’ve seen.

Read our review of the best Android phones.

Google Pixel 8 Pro (128 GB) — Upgrade Pick
Best Buy deal price: $800; street price: $1,000
Amazon deal price: $800; street price: $1,000
Target deal price: $800; street price: $1,000

What we like: Our upgrade pick for the best Android phone. Has a larger OLED screen than the our top pick, with a higher resolution and refresh rate, as well as a 5x telephoto camera. Excellent software and seven years of update support. Best battery life of any Pixel phone.

Other things to know: More expensive than previous Pro models. New temperature sensor feature not particularly useful. First-time deal. Target RedCard users (free to join) get an additional 5% off.

Read our review of the best Android phones.

Google Pixel 7a (Unlocked, 128 GB) — Budget Pick
Best Buy deal price: $374; street price: $470
Amazon deal price: $374; street price: $470
Target deal price: $374; street price: $470

What we like: Our budget pick for the best Android phone. Powered by Google’s latest processor. Improved 64-megapixel camera sensor, wireless charging, Face Unlock, and an upgraded 1080p display with a smoother 90 Hz refresh rate.

Other things to know: Pricier than Google’s typical budget phones. Made with recycled plastic body, aluminum frame, with a dual-camera setup on the rear. Android 13 operating system with five years of security updates. Target RedCard users (free to join) get an additional 5% off.

Read our review of the best Android phones.

Lively Jitterbug Smart3 Smart Phone.
Photo: Marki Williams

Lively Jitterbug Smart3 Smart Phone — Our Pick
Best Buy deal price: $50; street price: $75

What we like: Our pick for the best simple smartphone for older adults. Reasonably priced. Offers easy navigation and doesn’t require downloading additional apps. Provides the option of 24/7 emergency monitoring. Audio and voice features can assist with making and receiving calls and messages.

Other things to know: To get the most benefits, you have to subscribe to one of Lively’s calling plans. Calling plans include options for add-on health and safety services, roughly $25 per month. You can download other apps from the Google Play store, but the process is far from intuitive. Wi-Fi calling is not available.

Read our review of the best cell phones for older adults.

Advertisement

SKIP ADVERTISEMENT
Our pick for best budget Android phone, the OnePlus Nord N30 5G, lying face down.
Photo: Michael Hession

OnePlus Nord N30 5G Android Phone — Top Pick
Amazon deal price: $230; street price: $285

What we like: Our top pick for the best budget Android phone. Delivers solid performance and has a bright, fast LCD screen with a high refresh rate. Comes with a side-mounted fingerprint reader and Verizon 5G support. Guaranteed to support one software update to Android 14 and security updates until June 2026.

Other things to know: Camera quality isn’t the best, even in good lighting. Plastic body makes it feel like a budget phone. New low price. Also available from Best Buy. Delayed shipping.

Read our review of the best budget Android phones.

A phone on a dash mount.
Photo: Sarah Kobos

What we like: Our wireless-charging phone mount pick for either dash or windshield. Quick-charging. Easy to mount and unmount your phone.

Other things to know: Includes 12-volt charger with micro-USB adapter.

Read our review of the best wireless charging phone mounts for cars.

An iPhone with a leather phone case.
Photo: Michael Hession

What we like: An iPhone 14 leather case we like almost as much as Apple’s. Ages well over time. Compatible with MagSafe.

Other things to know: A rubber case with a leather panel on the back. Currently available only in the natural leather color. Price includes shipping.

 

A close up of the Satechi Duo
Photo: Michael Hession

What we like: Our upgrade wireless portable power bank pick if you want two Qi charging pads. Pass-through charging with a total maximum output of up to 20 W and the USB-C PD port has up to 18 W of power. Main wireless charging pad supports up to 10 W charging, the second smaller charging pad supports up to 5 W charging.

Other things to know: Only notable drawback is its size—at 10.3 ounces, slightly heavier than our other picks. Clip the on-page coupon.

Read our review of the best wireless portable chargers and power banks.

Meet your guide

Wirecutter Staff

Advertisement

SKIP ADVERTISEMENT
Edit