If you must buy brand new, wait for these three windows: Black Friday: The best time for unlocked Android devices.
Always check the trade-in value of your current phone on third-party sites before handing it to a carrier. Sometimes a direct sale on Swappa gives you more cash than a carrier credit. cheapest way to buy a phone
Carriers like Verizon or AT&T often offer "free" phones with a trade-in. This is only the "cheapest" way if: If you must buy brand new, wait for
You already plan on staying with that carrier for 36 months. You are on an unlimited plan anyway. If you must buy brand new