The holiday shopping season is fast approaching, and if you like getting a head start, Amazon’s Prime Big Deal Days sale — aka October Prime Day — is the perfect chance to score early savings, and just a week away. While the big commerce event doesn’t officially begin until Oct. 7-8, there are already several noteworthy deals on the latest smartphones available for you to take advantage of — many of which we’ve tested and recommended at ZDNET.
Also: The best phones we’ve tested this year
Considering how close October Prime Day is to Black Friday and Cyber Monday, there’s a good chance that prices won’t drop any lower. (When in doubt, take advantage of Amazon’s 30-day return policy or contact customer service for a price adjustment.) Here are the best early Prime Day phone deals we’ve found so far.
Best phone deals for October Prime Day 2025
An October Prime Day is an ideal time to upgrade your smartphone because you can make a more informed decision right now. All major launches from the likes of Apple, Samsung, and Google are out of the way, so you have a rough idea of how they stack up against each other. And Prime Day brings the price to a more affordable range on some of the best Android phones on the market. Here are some of the best early Prime Day 2025 deals that you shouldn’t miss.
- Current price: $1,044
- Original price: $1,300
The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra remains one of the best phones to buy in October 2025, despite being launched early in the year. It sports the best display on a smartphone that we’ve tested, versatility with four rear cameras, powerful performance, and a decent battery life. While the S Pen isn’t what it used to be, it is still great for jotting down quick notes.
Review: Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra
- Current price: $1,100
- Original price: $1,300
The Motorola Razr Ultra 2025 is one of the most capable flip phones you can buy right now. It has a big inner display that can be folded into a tiny phone with a flexible cover screen. The outer display is perfect for quick tasks and instant replies, better than even Samsung’s Galaxy Z Flip 7 in this regard.
Review: Motorola Razr Ultra 2025
- Current price: $949
- Original price: $1,099
This year’s Galaxy Z Flip model is more competent than ever, with a larger outer display for improved glanceability and one-tap actions while reducing the overall thickness. Various colors are on sale for a limited time.
- Current price: $289
- Original price: $399
The Nothing Phone (2a) Plus will get you one of the best software experiences under $300. It sports a big, legible screen, plenty of power under the hood, and smart OS features that improve the user experience. Plus, the battery will last you all day.
Review: Nothing Phone (2a) Plus
- Current price: $900
- Original price: $1,100
The one true Apple iPhone Air rival, Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge, is the thinnest Android flagship phone you can buy. I consider it the true compact phone for content consumption, and you still get one more camera lens than the Apple counterpart. The battery life isn’t as good as its more expensive Ultra sibling, but it is a great phone for everyday use.
Review: Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge
- Current price: $250
- Original price: $300
The Moto G Power remains my go-to recommendation for those who want excellent battery life on their new phone for under $300. It’ll easily last you more than a day, despite its tall display, satisfactory cameras and smooth OS. On Prime Day sale, this is one of the best phones you can buy under $250.
Review: Motorola Moto G Power 2025
- Current price: $675
- Original price: $800
Last year’s Google Pixel flagship is still a solid offering with a $125 discount. It’ll provide long software support, above-average cameras, smooth user experience, and new features with Pixel Drop updates. If the new Pixel 10 isn’t for you for some reason, the Pixel 9 is a good alternative.
Review: Google Pixel 9
More October Prime Day phone deals
If you are looking for more phone deals, there are several other options to consider this sale season.
- Samsung Galaxy S25: $680 (save $120): The base model of Samsung’s flagship lineup is already going for $120 off. It offers a lighter design in a familiar form. It is one of the best Samsung phones right now.
- CMF Phone 1: $209 (save $80): Nothing’s sub-brand, CMF makes great value for money devices, and the CMF Phone 1 is one of them, especially at this price..
- Motorola Razr Plus 2025: $904 (save $100): This, in hot pin,k is one of the most stylish phones of the year. You get the best of Motorola in head-turning flip form factor.
- OnePlus 13R $549 (save $50): The best Google Pixel 9a alternative, OnePlus 13R offers a better display, faster chargin,g and longer-lasting battery life.
- Oukitel WP55 rugged smartphone: $290 (save $70): If you want a rugged phone but don’t want to spend more than $300, look no further; the Oukitel WP55 will serve you well.
When is October Prime Day 2025?
Amazon has officially announced the arrival of October Prime Day 2025. It will be a two-day event in early October. The official dates are set as October 7-8, but expect more deals to go live as we head towards the big sale.
Are smartphones really cheaper on Prime Day?
Yes, smartphones are cheaper on Prime Day, especially now in October. This sale commences right before big events like Black Friday and Cyber Monday, so prices are unlikely to drop further. Grab the deals before they expire.
How did we choose these October Prime Day deals?
ZDNET only writes about deals we want to buy. We consider products from our personal experience with each one of them. These are the phones that we desire, need, or would recommend. Our experts looked for deals that were at least 20% off (or are hardly ever on sale), using established price comparison tools and trackers to determine whether the deal is actually on sale and how frequently it drops.
We aim to deliver the most accurate advice to help you shop smarter. So, we also reviewed customer reviews to find out what matters to real people who already own and use the deals we’re recommending. Our recommendations may also be based on our own testing — in addition to extensive research, and comparison shopping.
What are the best early Prime Day deals?
ZDNET’s experts have been searching through early Prime Day and other sales to find the best discounts by category. These are the best deals live now:
And the best deals from other retailers:
