You're probably looking for a new phone. Most people are, honestly. Every year, the cycle repeats, and the Samsung S24 Black Friday season is where things get truly chaotic. Retailers like Best Buy, Amazon, and Samsung themselves start shouting about massive discounts, but here is the thing—most of those "deals" aren't actually as good as they look on the surface.
I've been tracking smartphone pricing trends for years. I've seen the fake markups. I've seen the "rebates" that never arrive. If you want a Galaxy S24, S24+, or the Ultra, you need to understand that Black Friday isn't just one day anymore. It's a month-long psychological game.
The trap of the "MSRP" discount
Marketing departments love big numbers. They'll tell you the S24 Ultra is "$300 off!" and your brain does a little happy dance. But wait. Is it $300 off the original launch price from early 2024, or $300 off what it was selling for in October? Usually, it's the former. By the time November rolls around, the S24 has already seen several price cuts.
Samsung is aggressive.
They have to be because Apple and Google are breathing down their necks. If you're paying more than $600 for a base S24 during a Samsung S24 Black Friday sale, you're probably overpaying. I’ve seen the base model hit $599 or even $549 at major retailers like Amazon when they’re trying to clear inventory before the S25 launch in January. That’s the real secret. Samsung wants this stock gone so they can make room for the next shiny object.
Trade-ins are where the real money is (usually)
If you have an old phone, don't just shove it in a drawer. Samsung’s own website often offers "enhanced" trade-in values during the holidays. This is where they give you way more for your cracked S21 than it’s actually worth on the open market.
Last year, they were giving people nearly $800 for recent trade-ins toward the Ultra. That makes the phone almost "free" in carrier terms, though you're usually locked into a three-year contract with Verizon or AT&T. That's the catch. You aren't just buying a phone; you're signing a digital prenup with a service provider.
Why the S24 Plus is the sleeper hit of Samsung S24 Black Friday
Everybody talks about the Ultra. It has the 200MP camera. It has the S-Pen. It’s a brick, basically.
But the S24+ is actually the one you should watch for. It finally got a QHD+ display again this year, matching the Ultra's sharpness. It has 12GB of RAM. In previous years, the Plus model was sort of a "middle child" that no one cared about, but this year, the specs are so close to the Ultra that paying the $300 premium for the big dog feels... questionable.
During the Samsung S24 Black Friday rush, the Plus often sees the deepest percentage-based discounts because retailers have more of them in stock than the Ultra, which sells out faster. If you can snag an S24+ for under $750, you've won. Seriously. It’s the sweet spot of the entire lineup.
Don't ignore the "Renewed" market
Amazon has this "Renewed" program. It’s basically refurbished, but with a better warranty. During Black Friday, the prices on these "like-new" units plummet. People buy the S24, realize they hate Android, and return it within two weeks. Those phones end up in the Renewed bin. You can often save an extra $150 on top of the Black Friday sale price just by accepting a box that’s already been opened.
It's environmentally friendly, too. Or whatever. Mostly, it's just cheaper.
The AI hype vs. Reality
Samsung pushed "Galaxy AI" hard. Circle to Search, live translation, photo editing tools—it’s all there. But here is a reality check: most of that is now available on the S23 and even the S22 via software updates.
Don't buy the S24 just for the AI. Buy it for the Seven Years of Updates.
That is the real reason the Samsung S24 Black Friday deals matter in 2026. This phone is designed to last until 2031. If you buy an S23 on sale, you're losing years of security patches. The S24 is the first "long-term" investment phone Samsung has really nailed. It’s about longevity, not just fancy photo tricks.
Comparing the big three retailers
Where you buy matters. A lot.
- Best Buy: Usually offers the best "unlocked" deals if you activate it today. If you're okay with them poking around your carrier account, you'll save an extra $50-$100 on the spot.
- Amazon: The cleanest experience. No carrier BS. The price you see is the price you pay. But watch out for "third-party" sellers—only buy if it says "Ships from and Sold by Amazon.com."
- Samsung.com: The best for trade-ins. They also usually throw in a pair of Galaxy Buds or a SmartTag for free. If you don't have a trade-in, Samsung’s direct price is often higher than Amazon’s.
The "Black Friday" timing mistake
If you wait until the actual Friday after Thanksgiving, you've already lost.
The best deals for the Samsung S24 Black Friday season usually start the Monday before. Sometimes even earlier. By Friday, the popular colors—like that Cobalt Violet or the Titanium Gray—are backordered until Christmas. If you see a price drop on the Monday of Black Friday week, take it. Prices rarely go lower on the actual day. They just run out of stock.
Watch the Snapdragon vs. Exynos situation
If you're in the US, you get the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3. It's a beast. It's efficient. It doesn't get hot.
If you're reading this in Europe or parts of Asia, the base S24 and S24+ use the Exynos 2400. It’s better than previous years, but it’s still not quite the Snapdragon. If you're an international buyer, that's a nuance you have to weigh against the price. Is a "good deal" still good if the battery life is 10% worse? Probably. But you should know what you're paying for.
Real-world battery expectations
I’ve used the S24 Ultra for months. It’s a two-day phone for most people. The base S24? Not so much. It's a "charge every night" phone. If you're a power user—someone who spends six hours a day on TikTok or gaming—the base S24 will frustrate you by 4:00 PM.
Factor that into your purchase.
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A "cheap" S24 is only a deal if it actually fits your lifestyle. If you're always near a charger, go for the small one. It fits in your pocket so much better. If you travel, get the Plus or the Ultra. The extra battery capacity is worth the extra $200.
Actionable steps for your Samsung S24 purchase
To actually secure the best price and avoid the marketing fluff, follow this specific sequence:
- Check your trade-in value today. Go to the Samsung Shop app. See what your current phone is worth. This is your "baseline."
- Install a price tracker. Use a browser extension like CamelCamelCamel for Amazon. It will show you a graph of the S24’s price history. If the "Black Friday Sale" price is the same as it was in August, it’s not a real sale.
- Target the S24+ for the best value. Unless you absolutely need the S-Pen, the Plus model offers the most significant hardware upgrades over the previous generation for the lowest relative cost.
- Buy Unlocked if possible. Carrier deals look great ($0 a month!), but they usually require you to stay on a premium unlimited plan that costs $90 a month. Over 36 months, you’re paying way more than if you just bought the phone outright for $700.
- Verify the warranty. If buying from a third party on Black Friday, ensure it is the US version (SM-S921U). International versions (ending in B or 0) often don't have a valid warranty in North America and might lack certain 5G bands.
The S24 series represents the peak of "boring but perfect" smartphones. There are no gimmicks here, just a screen that’s bright enough to see in direct sunlight and software support that will outlast most cars. Pick your model based on battery needs, ignore the "limited time" countdown timers, and stick to the verified retailers.