How to choose a phone during a sale
A phone can look like a bargain and still be the wrong one for you. Work through these checks before you tap buy.
1. Decide what you need first
Pick your budget and your must-haves before you look at discounts. Do you mainly need a good camera, long battery life, enough storage for photos and videos, or a phone for WhatsApp and data-light browsing? A discount on a phone that doesn't fit your needs is still a poor buy.
2. Check the storage and memory
Storage and RAM are often listed in the model name, for example "8GB/256GB". Be careful with phones that come in several versions with different storage. The cheapest listing may be the smallest version, so check the exact model before you compare prices.
3. Compare the same model across shops
Search for the full model name and storage size on two or three shops. A price is only a deal if it is lower than the same phone elsewhere. Check the delivery fee too, because it can cancel out a small saving.
4. Check the warranty and the seller
- Is the phone sold new, and by the shop or a third-party seller?
- Does the product page mention a warranty, and for how long?
- Is there a returns policy you can read before you pay?
A phone that is cheap because it is used, refurbished or from an unknown seller may still be a good buy, but you need to know that before you pay.
5. Check the price history
Some shops raise the "original" price just before a sale. If the old price looks high, check whether the phone was ever sold at that price. Our guide to spotting a real discount explains how.
6. Save proof before you pay
Take a screenshot of the phone, the price, the old price and the seller's name. If anything changes after you order, you have a record to show the shop.
Go to the deal list and filter by Phones. Each deal opens the shop's own website, so check the final price before you pay.
Last updated: 16 October 2026