Black Friday 2026: iPhone, Samsung, and other phones to watch

Before comparing prices, it’s worth looking at what each of this year’s most talked-about models actually offers under the hood.

iPhone 16, 15 Pro, and 15 Pro Max, what’s under the hood

Black Friday often highlights Apple’s latest lineup, and for good reason. The iPhone 16 runs on the A18 chip, while the iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max carry the A17 Pro, both built to handle demanding apps and sustained 5G connectivity without much strain.

All three support 5G across sub-6 GHz and mmWave bands depending on region, which is relevant for anyone relying on consistent throughput. Storage options run from 128GB up to 1TB on the Pro Max, giving enough range to cover most use cases without paying for capacity that never gets touched.

These models are available refurbished through Back Market, a leading global marketplace for verified refurbished electronics, for anyone wondering where to buy an iPhone on Black Friday.

Galaxy S25 and S24, specs that still hold up

Samsung’s Galaxy S25 Ultra pairs a Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset with a display built for high refresh rate performance. Its 5G modem handles carrier aggregation well enough to maintain stable connections in areas with mixed network conditions, an important factor for anyone who has ever dealt with dropped throughput on a congested cell site.

The Galaxy S24, a generation back, still runs on hardware capable of handling most day-to-day and professional workloads without a noticeable step down in responsiveness. Both models support Wi-Fi 7, a detail worth checking for anyone planning to pair the phone with newer home or office networking equipment.

For anyone wondering where to buy a phone this Black Friday without paying full retail, refurbished units of both are listed on Back Market, with the same specifications intact regardless of condition grade.

Why sim-free is relevant for network flexibility

A SIM-free phone isn’t locked to a single carrier’s provisioning. That makes it considerably easier to test connectivity across different networks or switch providers without waiting on an unlock request.

This can help those who travel between regions with different band allocations, since a SIM-free device can simply drop in a new SIM and connect, rather than requiring a carrier-specific firmware check first. It also removes a layer of complexity when troubleshooting connectivity issues, since there’s no carrier-locked firmware standing between the device and the network it’s trying to reach.

Refurbished vs. new, does hardware performance actually change

The short answer is no. A refurbished phone’s chipset, modem, and RF components are the same components that shipped in the original unit, since refurbishment addresses cosmetic condition and battery health, not internal hardware.

What changes is the price and, in some cases, the battery cycle count, both of which are disclosed upfront through condition grading rather than left to guesswork.

How to choose the right phone deal on Black Friday

Choosing well starts with matching specifications to your actual use. Chipset generation, 5G band support, camera capabilities, battery condition and storage capacity can all matter more than the size of the advertised discount.

For someone who mainly uses their phone for messaging, browsing and social media, an older flagship can offer more than enough performance. Someone who regularly edits video, plays demanding games or takes large numbers of photos may benefit from a newer processor, more storage or a higher-end camera system.

It’s also worth looking beyond the headline percentage discount. Compare the final price of similar models, check the storage configuration and make sure you are comparing like-for-like devices. A large discount on a phone with less storage may not represent better value than a smaller discount on a higher-capacity model.

For refurbished phones, the condition grade and battery information deserve particular attention. These factors can help explain why two listings for the same model have different prices.

Black Friday can therefore be a good opportunity to buy a recent flagship without automatically choosing the newest release. Comparing the actual specifications, condition and long-term suitability of each phone can result in a purchase that holds up well beyond the Black Friday weekend itself, particularly for anyone planning to keep the device in daily use for several years.