I found the 20+ best 4th of July phone deals: Save big on Galaxy, Pixel, iPhone, and more
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Amazon Prime Day may be over, but the great deals continue as we head into the 4th of July weekend. If you've been thinking of upgrading your mobile device, now is a great time to buy. Retailers are rolling out major discounts across the mobile space, with flagship devices and budget phones seeing some of their best prices of the summer. There are plenty of great deals available right now. The question is: what and where are they?
Also: I replaced my iPhone battery at the Apple store for the first time ever - and learned a valuable lesson
Here at ZDNET, I review several major smartphone releases and track deals of even more throughout the year. Something I've noticed is that buying a new phone is more complicated than ever in 2026. Between rising prices, economic instability, and a market packed with excellent options at every price point, finding the right device can be challenging.
To help narrow things down, I sifted through the current 4th of July promotions and rounded up the smartphone deals that are actually worth your attention. You can also check out the best July 4th deals on tech , laptops , and TVs .
Kicking off the list is this renewed iPhone 17 Pro. Multiple configurations are on sale. The one I recommend is the 512GB model in the eye-catching Cosmic Orange color.
This flagship model is powered by the A19 Pro chipset, providing top-tier performance for every type of task, from gaming to video editing, as well as enabling the various Apple Intelligence features. It boasts a high-quality 6.9-inch ProMotion OLED screen. Colors are vibrant, brightness levels are excellent for the outdoors, and on-screen animations are velvety smooth thanks to the 120Hz refresh rate. Similar to the iPhone 17 Pro Max, it features a titanium design and an advanced camera system.
Also: Best iPhone 2026: I compared the top models and found the best options for you
Sometimes the best deals are found outside of Amazon. Case in point: this iPhone 17 deal from T-Mobile. As part of a new promotion, T-Mobile will give you a free iPhone 17 if you sign up for their Experience Beyond plan and pay a $35 device connection fee. This deal to both the 256GB and 512GB models.
As for the device itself, the iPhone 17 is one of Apple's most compelling base models it has ever made. It is the first base iPhone to come with a ProMotion display, a feature usually reserved for high-end models. The device also comes with a dual 48MP camera system for taking great shots, plus a high-quality 24MP selfie lens. Add in a sleek design and a maximum brightness of 3,000, and you have a great phone that punches above its weight.
Best Buy is running its own sales event alongside Amazon Prime Day. They have some great iPhone deals, and this is a perfect example. The iPhone 16e introduced a major shift for entry-level iPhones. It ditches the iPhone SE style and adopts a design that closely resembles the iPhone 14. Performance is a strong suit of the model, as it houses the A18 chipset, which supports Apple Intelligence features such as Genmoji and Image Playground. The device boasts a 6.1-inch OLED screen and a single 48MP main camera.
That camera isn't the greatest, admittedly. It lacks the advanced video features of the iPhone 16 Pro, but it still captures sharp, vibrant photographs.
The iPhone Air is a bold device. It is Apple's thinnest and lightest smartphone yet, measuring just 5.6mm thick and weighing 165 grams. Lightweight it may be, this device packs serious muscle thanks to its A19 Pro chipset, which keeps the iPhone Air on par with more powerful models. Its 6.5-inch OLED screen is bright and vibrant. The high 120Hz refresh rates provide fluid on-screen animations. There are some trade-offs. The phone only features a single rear camera, and the battery life is pretty average compared to the Pros, but regardless, they don't hold the device back in any significant way. It's great, nonetheless.
The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra isn't a major upgrade from its predecessor. Instead, it successfully refines an already winning formula with a sleeker design, smarter software features, and several meaningful quality-of-life improvements. Its standout feature is Privacy Display, which obscures the screen's view at certain angles to keep sensitive information hidden from nearby onlookers. Powering the flagship is Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processor, delivering flagship performance. Whether you're juggling multiple apps or playing demanding mobile games, the Galaxy S26 Ultra will stay fast, responsive, and remarkably smooth.
Longevity is another major strength, as the phone's 5,000 mAh battery comfortably lasts a full day. After testing the Galaxy S26 Ultra, ZDNET Contributing Writer Prakhar Khanna found that the device still had roughly 25% battery remaining after an entire day of use.
Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 7 sits at the premium end of foldable smartphones, combining flagship performance with one of the most versatile form factors available today. Like the Galaxy S26 Ultra, it runs on Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Elite processor, providing the power needed for multitasking and the company's AI-powered features.
When closed, the Fold 7 functions like a traditional smartphone thanks to its spacious 6.5-inch outer display. Open it up, however, and the device transforms into an 8-inch mini tablet. The larger inner display is perfect for reading, gaming, and working across several apps, making the Galaxy Z Fold 7 surprisingly effective at productivity tasks. You can have one app on one half of the screen and another on the other half.
Samsung also equipped the phone with a 200MP main camera that captures highly detailed images with excellent clarity.
The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip7 FE brings the foldable phone experience of the base Flip7 to a lower price point. Powered by the Exynos 2400 chipset and 8GB of RAM, the device handles everyday productivity, media streaming, and multitasking with relative ease. On the outside is a 3.4-inch FlexWindow that lets users access specific apps and interact with notifications. With Samsung's FlexMode, you can enjoy hands-free photography with the 50MP main lens too. Other notable features include integration with Gemini Live, a 4,000mAh battery, and support for the company's broader ecosystem of devices and software.
Samsung's Galaxy A37 is a well-rounded midrange smartphone that delivers a strong overall experience. My favorite feature is the addition of optical image stabilization to the 50MP main camera. It helps the lens capture sharper photos and steadier videos while moving.
It features a large 6.7-inch Super AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate. A screen like this will make you feel like you're using a high-end device. Images are wonderfully vibrant, and the high refresh rate ensures fluid scrolling. Battery life is another standout feature. Its 5,000 mAh battery can comfortably last a full day.
Note that this deal is for the 256GB model.
The Pixel 9 is an interesting device because it was the first of Google's phones to blur the line between base and Pro models. It delivers a user experience akin to a high-end model. A big part of this is the Tensor G4 chip and 16GB of RAM, providing fast, fluid performance for productivity tasks and gaming. The dual-camera system includes a 50MP main sensor and a then-new 48MP ultrawide lens to produce highly detailed, vibrant photographs. It runs on a 4,700mAh battery, which allows the Pixel 9 to last a full day on a single charge.
The Pixel 9a is the mid-range model for the Pixel 9 series. A phone like this typically doesn't perform as well as higher-end devices. That's true to an extent, but in certain areas, it's better than the base Pixel 9.
Like the previous entry, it runs on the Tensor G4 chipset alongside 8GB of RAM. That is half the Pixel 9's memory, but it still delivers smooth performance, responsive multitasking, and access to Google's Gemini AI features. The phone features a vibrant 6.3-inch OLED screen with a 120Hz refresh rate and up to 2,700 nits of brightness. One advantage of the Pixel 9a is its huge 5,100 mAh battery, which ensures excellent all-day endurance.
Multiple configurations are on sale. To get the best deal, I recommend the Pixel 9a in Peony (pink).
Google's Pixel 9 Pro XL was once the company's premium flagship model. Although it may no longer be the leader of the pack, it's still a great phone. It boasts a large 6.8-inch OLED screen capable of reaching up to 3,000 nits of brightness. Like the other devices in its series, it operates on a Tensor G4 processor and 16GB of RAM to ensure fast app performance.
The Pixel 9 Pro XL also has one of the better camera systems in the series. A major reason is that the cameras "mainly revolve around AI and how its imaging engine interprets and enhances output," as ZDNet Editor-in-Chief Kerry Wan noted in his review. Photographs taken by the phone are highly detailed with strong contrast and excellent dynamic range. It also comes with AI-powered editing tools like Magic Editor and Add Me.
The Google Pixel 10 is the low-end model for its series. Don't think that means it's any less than its smartphone siblings, because it delivers much of the same premium experience as the other models. Powered by the company's Tensor G5 chipset, the Pixel 10 provides smooth everyday performance, better energy efficiency, and deep Gemini AI integration. The camera system also got a significant upgrade, thanks to a new triple-camera setup that now includes a 5x telephoto lens with up to 20x Super Res Zoom. Previous entry-level phones were limited to dual-camera setups.
As part of Google's new generation of phones, the Pixel 10 also supports the Pixelsnap magnetic accessories and Qi2 wireless charging.
The Moto G Power was one of my favorite phones from 2025, primarily because of its crazy battery life. I tested the mobile device myself when it came out, and I clocked it at lasting nearly three days straight on a single charge. To this day, I don't think I've ever tested a phone that lasted that long.
Inside, it runs on a MediaTek Dimensity 6300 chipset and 8GB of RAM for smooth performance. It's not the highest-performing phone I've ever tested, but it's decent enough to handle web browsing, video streaming, and launching multiple apps without breaking a sweat. Plus, the combination of a large display and booming stereo speakers allows the Moto G Power to double as a mini movie theater.
Motorola's 2025 Razr Ultra remains a premium foldable phone a year after its release. A part of its continued success is thanks to the combination of its Snapdragon 8 Elite processor and 16GB of RAM, which deliver fast, reliable performance for multitasking, gaming, and general use. The company also enhanced the device's durability by equipping it with a titanium-reinforced hinge, making the Razr Ultra feel much sturdier than the previous generation. It was such a good feature that the hinge is also present on the 2026 model.
Its camera system is another highlight. Sporting a 50MP main sensor and a 50MP ultrawide lens, the phone can capture highly detailed photographs with strong dynamic range and vibrant colors.
The 4-inch outer screen remains one of the best seen on any flip phone, allowing users to access key apps and notifications without needing to open the Razr Ultra.
The Razr FIFA World Cup 26 Edition is a special-edition version of the 2025 Motorola Razr, featuring an exclusive World Cup-themed form factor while delivering the same great user experience. It's powered by a MediaTek Dimensity 7400X processor, 8GB of RAM, and 256GB of storage, ensuring reliable performance for multitasking and streaming. The phone also boasts a dual-camera system, a 4,500 mAh battery designed to last a full day, and AI tools to enhance productivity.
In addition to the World Cup aesthetic, this phone also comes with custom FIFA-themed wallpapers and a ringtone of the official tournament jingle.
The Moto G Stylus may be a midrange smartphone, but it's far more capable than its price tag suggests. Powered by Qualcomm's Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 processor, the device can handle heavy multitasking, numerous apps running simultaneously, and even graphically demanding mobile games better than the other phones in Motorola's 2025 Moto G lineup.
It also features a 6.7-inch AMOLED Super HD screen with a 120Hz refresh rate and up to 3,000-nit peak brightness. Colors look rich and vibrant, while the high refresh rate makes on-screen animations look exceptionally smooth. Paired with Dolby Atmos stereo speakers, the display creates one of the best multimedia experiences you'll find on a mid-range mobile device.
The Moto G Play LTE has dropped down to $85 during Amazon Prime Day, making it the cheapest phone on this list. Despite its low price, Motorola's device packs features you wouldn't normally expect in an ultra-budget smartphone, from its 6.5-inch 90Hz display to Dolby Atmos stereo speakers. It even houses a large 5,000mAh battery that easily lasts an entire day on a single charge - and likely longer for light users. Powered by a Snapdragon 680 processor, the Moto G Play provides enough performance for everyday tasks and streaming without feeling super slow.
The TCL 60 XE NXTPAPER is a budget-friendly Android with some unique characteristics. Pressing the dedicated NXTPAPER button activates certain viewing modes. Standard Mode is exactly as described: the base state of the phone that outputs vibrant visuals. Ink Paper Mode turns the screen into an e-reader. Color Paper Mode adds a splash of color to the e-reader display. And Max Ink Mode turns the entire screen grayscale.
It houses a large 6.8-inch Full HD+ screen running at 120Hz and is powered by a MediaTek Dimensity 6300 chip with 8GB of RAM, delivering decent everyday performance.
