With the 2022 Prime Day deals right around the corner, now is the perfect time to think about picking up a new smartphone, especially since some of the hottest deals of the year on smartphones are going to be happening next week during Prime Day. The sales begin next Tuesday, July 12, and run through Wednesday, July 13, and the best Prime Day phone deals aren’t going to be limited to just those days (or just to Amazon, for that matter). So, let’s look at when it starts, where you’re going to find the best Prime Day phone deals, and what to consider before spending your money.
When do the Prime Day phone deals start?
During a recent quarterly report, Amazon announced that this year Prime Day will be in July, so we have an official answer as to what month it’s in, at the very least. As to the specific date, that’s a bit hard to gauge, as the last few years have been all over the place. For example, last year, Prime Day was June 21, but Prime Day 2020 started on October 13, and before that, Prime Day 2019 was July 15.
Suffice to say, it’s a bit complicated to gauge when exactly the deals will start, but most likely, we’re looking at sometime between the middle to end of July, and if the past is anything to go by, we might even see it July 15. That means if you’re looking for a Prime Day phone deal, that’s the best time to keep your eyes open.
Where are the best Prime Day phone deals?
Amazon is, of course, the star of the show during Prime Day. That means some of the best Prime Day phone deals you’ll find will likely be on Amazon, whether you’re trying to pick between the Galaxy S22 Ultra vs. Google Pixel 6 Pro or the more affordable OnePlus Nord N20 5G. Either way, you’ll find some great smartphone and tablet deals on Amazon, so definitely worth saving up until then.
While Amazon tends to be the main seller on Prime Day, many other retailers like to offer deals around the same time to take advantage of all the hubbub of Prime Day. For example, if you’re looking for phones — especially cheaper ones — Walmart and Best Buy are great options, as they both often have phone deals throughout the year, so Prime Day is likely to see even better ones. Plus, they offer some pretty good financing, and if you’re a member of either, you’re going to get a lot out of potential deals as well.
Of course, you should also check the main carriers like Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile. While they don’t often have specific deals on their own, generally working through places like Walmart and Best Buy, you might still find some good deals during Prime Day. That being said, keep in mind that the phones you get from them are likely to be locked, so if you want an unlocked phone, you’re better off buying from somewhere else. On the other hand, locked phones are often much cheaper, so ultimately, it’s up to you depending on your needs.
Besides those two, Newegg also tends to have nice phone deals throughout the year, so we’d expect to see some of the best Prime Day phone deals there as well. Just be aware that Newegg is more focused on PC parts, so the selection might not be the best.
While much more specific, Samsung is also a great place to look for the best Prime Day phone deals. Granted, you’re only going to find Samsung phones on there, but there is still a great catalog to choose from, and the deals are likely to be some of the best when it comes to Samsung phones. There’s also a possibility Samsung will have some great deals on tablets, so if you’ve been thinking of picking one of those up, that’s likely to be a great chance. Some of the coolest items to get from Samsung are the Flip 3 and the Fold 3, especially since we might not see another version coming out for another year, meaning there won’t be another big discount on them for a while.
Similarly is Google, which doesn’t always have sales, but you may find something good on Prime Day. Google also generally has good financing, so that’s a good reason to keep an eye on them.
Should you buy a phone on Prime Day 2022?
Yes, absolutely. Prime Day phone deals are some of the best of the year and often outshine even Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Of course, if you can’t wait until then, Digital Trends collects a list of some of the best smartphone deals on the market, or if you’re looking specifically for the best iPhone deals, we have those too. We also keep track of some of the best cheap phone deals you can get if you’re on a budget, and if you’re looking for 5G, we have a list of the best 5G phone deals.
That being said, if you can wait, you should, and in the meantime, you’ll want to prepare yourself and think about what sort of phone you want to get. While the most important thing is budget, there’s such a huge variety of phones that you’ll likely find a lot to pick from. Therefore, it’s important to know what exactly you’re looking for, especially if there will be compromises on features.
For starters, you should look at the best phones for 2022 to get a general idea of some good options, and we’ve even listed them along a wide range of budgets to work with everybody. More specifically, if you’re a fan of either Android or iPhone, we have a list of the best Android phones for 2022 and the best iPhones for 2022, which are a bit more in-depth and focus on the specific OS.
Beyond that, make sure you pick something that you are comfortable with and you think is going to be a good purchase in the long run, and that fits in your budget. There’s nothing worse than regretting a purchase down the line, so take full advantage of the best Prime Day phone deals to get the juiciest deal you can.
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