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Memorial Day is over, but you can still score a great deal on a new smartphone. Major discounts on popular models are live across multiple retailers, making this a great time to upgrade. Whether you're looking for a cutting-edge foldable or a refurbished iPhone, there's something out there for everyone.
Also: My favorite Memorial Day deals: Save big on laptops, tablets, and more
At ZDNET, we review every major smartphone release and track mobile device deals year-around. Buying a new phone in 2026 is trickier than ever before. Not only because of the current economic factors, but also because there are so many strong options available at every point. To help narrow things down, I have sorted through many Memorial Day sales to highlight the best smartphone deals most worth your attention.
Plus, be sure to check out our Memorial Day deals on TVs, SSDs, Apple products, laptops, phones, headphones, and outdoor gear.
New units of the iPhone 17 Pro Max appear to be widely sold out, but refurbished devices are readily available. Best Buy has one of the better deals, slashing the price by more than $400.
Powered by the A19 Pro chip, the iPhone 17 Pro Max delivers elite performance that few smartphones can match. Like the iPhone 17 Pro, it features a smooth 120Hz ProMotion OLED display and durable titanium construction. Still, the Pro Max stands out with its larger 6.9-inch screen and better battery life, rated for up to 39 hours of video playback on a single charge.
Review: iPhone 17 Pro Max
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The iPhone 16e is a solid midrange device that delivers much of the core iPhone 16 experience. It houses a vibrant 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR display inside a lightweight design. Powered by the A18 chipset, the phone supports the company's full suite of Apple Intelligence features, including Writing Tools and a "smarter" version of Siri. It also includes Apple's C1 5G modem, which helps both improve wireless connectivity and battery efficiency. The iPhone 16e can last up to 26 hours on a single charge.
Also: I replaced my iPhone 16 Pro with the 16e for a month - here's my buying advice now
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Samsung's Galaxy S26 Ultra is not a dramatic leap over the previous generation. Still, it does refine the formula with smarter software, a sleeker design, and several meaningful quality-of-life improvements. Its main new feature is Privacy Display, which limits viewing angles to help protect sensitive information, such as your banking details, from prying eyes nearby. Powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset, the S26 Ultra is one of the best-performing Android devices on the market. And its large 5,000 mAh battery lasts an entire day on a single charge.
Review: Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
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The Galaxy Z Fold 7 is as premium as a foldable phone can get. Like the Galaxy S26 Ultra, this device runs on a Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset, providing flagship-level performance. The outer screen measures 6.5 inches and works well for everyday usage. However, the real star of the show is the expansive 8-inch inner screen. It transforms the foldable phone into a proper mini tablet that's excellent for reading, streaming, and browsing the internet. The Fold 7 also comes with a 200MP camera that captures impressively detailed photos.
Review: Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7
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I'd recommend the Galaxy A37 to anyone looking for a highly dependable midrange smartphone. I tested the model myself recently and liked it so much that I ended up buying one for my mother for Mother's Day. It runs on an Exynos 1480, a midrange chip that is still pretty good for web browsing, social media, streaming, and multitasking.
Its camera system is better than one would expect from a midrange model. Samsung's phone supports optical image stabilization. Photos and videos come out crisp and detailed, with clarity that rivals that of more expensive models.
Review: Samsung Galaxy A37
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In my opinion, the 2025 Motorola Edge is a very underrated midrange smartphone, because it delivers a surprisingly premium experience without flagship pricing.
The phone features a large 6.7-inch curved pOLED display with a sharp Super HD resolution and up to 4,500 nits of peak brightness, ensuring clear visibility outdoors. Paired with Dolby Atmos speakers, the Motorola Edge delivers an immersive viewing experience that stands out for its price. Battery life is another major highlight, comfortably lasting around 20 hours on a single charge during regular use. When it needs to recharge, its fast-charging feature gets the phone back up and running quickly.
The Razr Edge is no longer on sale, but Motorola is offering a free Lenovo Idea Tab Pro (which normally retails for $420) with purchase for a limited time.
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The 2025 Motorola Razr Ultra was a pretty ambitious flip phone when it was released, introducing significant changes to the series. Most notably, the phone features a new titanium-reinforced hinge that the company claims is "four times stronger than surgical-grade stainless steel," providing a more durable feel. The crease on the inner display is nearly invisible, and the curved sides make the device comfortable to hold. It also comes in these dynamic finishes that help the Razr Ultra stand out in a sea of generic black smartphones.
It is a flagship model, so it provides a flagship experience. Powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite processor, the Razr Ultra offers performance rivaling many other premium devices. Its large 4,700mAh battery ensures good longevity, allowing it to last through most of the day.
Review: Motorola 2025 Razr Ultra
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Google's Pixel 10 Pro XL is a strong flagship Android device. The combination of the Tensor G5 chipset and 16GB of RAM delivers fast, responsive performance. This processor also enables Gemini AI, giving users access to Google's full suite of advanced AI features.
This phone features a large 6.8-inch Super Actua display with vibrant, sharp visuals and up to 3,300 nits of peak brightness, making it easy to see even in direct sunlight. It includes what has been called the "most forgiving camera system on the market," according to ZDNET editor-in-chief Kerry Wan. While it may not match the cameras on the Galaxy S26 Ultra, the Pixel 10 Pro XL makes up for it with advanced computational photography and intelligent image recognition, producing excellent results.
Also: Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra vs. Google Pixel 10 Pro XL: This one's seriously close
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The Google Pixel 10 may be the entry-level model in the lineup, but it's arguably one of the best, providing high-end hardware at a more accessible price.
Powered by the same Tensor G5 chipset as the previous entry, the Pixel 10 offers fast performance, improved battery efficiency, and deep Gemini AI integration across the device. On the camera side, the smartphone features a triple-lens system, including a new 5x telephoto lens capable of up to 20x Super Res Zoom. That's a notable upgrade over past base models, which shipped with just two rear cameras.
Because it's part of Google's latest generation of phones, the Pixel 10 also supports Pixelsnap magnetic accessories and Qi2 wireless charging.
Also: Why Google's best Pixel 10 announcement yesterday was an iPhone feature - and I don't mind
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Memorial Day always takes place on the last Monday of May, and in 2026, the holiday falls on May 25. However, the sales event typically spans the entire weekend. You'll likely start seeing smartphone discounts appear on Friday, May 22, with deals continuing through Memorial Day weekend and into Monday.
ZDNET only writes about deals that capture our own interest -- devices and products we want, need, or would recommend not only to our readers, but to friends and family. Our experts look for deals at least 20% off (or hardly ever on sale), using established price-comparison tools and trackers to determine whether the deal is actually worth your time.
We also examine customer reviews and rely on our own hands-on experience with new tech to find out what matters to real people who already own and use the products we're recommending. The goal is to deliver the most accurate advice and to make you aware of price drops so you can shop smarter.
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