Technologies

Best Verizon Deals: Up to $800 Off iPhone, Samsung and Google Pixel phones

Avoid overpaying for your next phone with these Verizon promotions happening right now for Black Friday.

If you’re on Verizon and are looking for the absolute best Verizon deals to take advantage of, we’ve got you covered. Though there are plenty of great deals on phones and phone plans out there, this guide focuses on Verizon deals that are available for current customers. That means we aren’t highlighting offers that require you to add a new line, since most people want to upgrade phones they have on the plans they already have, not add a bunch of extra lines to «save» money.

It’s also worth noting that carriers constantly update their deals. Verizon has some pretty compelling offers available now for Black Friday, though the best Verizon deals often require you to be on one of the carrier’s newer, pricier unlimited plans, called Do More, Play More or Get More.

Get your next phone for the best price.

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In general, the best offers usually happen around the holidays or new phone launches — that’s February or March for Samsung Galaxy S phones, September for Apple iPhones, fall for Google Pixel phones. Verizon’s deals right now aren’t bad either, though.

While some manufacturers, particularly Apple and Samsung, offer deals on their own websites and stores, most people look to carriers to buy new devices. We’ll keep this page updated regularly with some of the best deals we’re seeing on Verizon’s website.

Best Verizon deals on phones

Many of Verizon’s phone deals are available to both new and existing customers, though trade-ins are often required to get the advertised prices. It’s worth noting that these deals are split across 36 months of bill credits, meaning you’ll need to remain a Verizon customer for at least three years in order for the phone to get paid off. If you cancel before that period is over you’ll be responsible for any remaining charges associated with it.

Our researched and curated deals picks are below, but if you’d like a more customized deeper dive, check out Navi, an independent marketplace (and CNET partner) that aggregates information on service plans and phone deals.

Best Verizon deals on accessories

Best Verizon deals on plans

If you’re looking to switch to Verizon, there are a few deals on various plans that may make you lean toward one or the other. Promotions on plans are less common these days, though oftentimes you can get some free extras (like streaming service subscriptions and music subscriptions) with enrollment in some of the higher-end 5G plans from each carrier, including Verizon.

A few things to note on Verizon’s plans. First, Verizon often limits these perks to one per account, so only one person on a family plan needs to be on Get More or Play More to be able to get the Disney Bundle (Disney Plus, ESPN Plus and Hulu). Other people on the plan can be on cheaper plans like 5G Start, though it is similarly worth mentioning that Verizon limits access to its fastest 5G networks (what it calls 5G Ultra Wideband) to its pricier unlimited plans.

Your company may also offer a corporate discount on plans, but you will need to check with them to see if that applies to personal accounts. Those who have Fios can check if a corporate discount is available at Verizon’s Connections site.

FAQ

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Technologies

Verizon’s Simple Mobile and Total Wireless Plans Expand International Features

If you frequently call or visit countries outside the US, these prepaid phone plan improvements could help your travel budget.

Travel patterns are changing, with more people in the US venturing outside the country and needing to stay connected. To accommodate this surge, Verizon is boosting the international options in its prepaid Simple Mobile and Total Wireless phone brands starting Aug. 28.

Most phone plans include options to call and text people in Canada and Mexico, along with some roaming options for US travelers. Depending on the plan, those options are extended to many other countries around the globe. But you often end up paying for a more expensive plan than you need in order to get the travel benefits.

Now, the Simple Mobile and Total Wireless brands are expanding their international options and increasing data allotments so you can travel using the plan you carry every day without the stress of finding local coverage.

See also: Make sure you have a good phone for traveling.

Simple Mobile changes

The Simple Mobile prepaid plans include an allotment of high-speed data before downshifting to slower unlimited data. Be sure to check the details for specific countries on the site. Here’s how they break down:

The $25 Unlimited plan includes 15GB of high-speed data (up from 3GB) and unlimited calling to more than 100 countries.
The $30 Unlimited plan includes 20GB of high-speed data (up from 5GB) and unlimited calling to more than 125 countries (up from 100 countries).
The $40 Unlimited plan includes 30GB of high-speed data (up from 15GB) and unlimited calling to more than 125 countries (up from 100 countries).
The $50 Unlimited World plan, formerly named the Truly Unlimited plan, includes unlimited high-speed data and unlimited calling to more than 200 countries (a doubling of the number of countries from before).
The $60 Unlimited World Plus plan, formerly the Truly Unlimited Plus plan, includes unlimited access to Verizon’s fastest network, 5G Ultra Wideband (where available) and unlimited high-speed data. It also doubles the number of countries with unlimited calling to over 200, and offers international roaming in more than 140 countries.

Total Wireless Plans

The top two Total Wireless plans, Total 5G Unlimited ($50 a month) and Total 5G Unlimited Plus ($60 a month), feature unlimited high-speed data, including 5G Ultra Wideband speeds.

As of Aug. 28, roaming coverage for those plans doubles to more than 30 countries and international calling to 180 countries.

The Total Base 5G Unlimited plan stays the same with unlimited high-speed data (but not 5G Ultra Wideband), international calling to more than 85 countries and texting to over 200 destinations and roaming in Canada and Mexico.

Technologies

Today’s NYT Strands Hints, Answers and Help for Aug. 20 #535

Here are hints and answers for the NYT Strands puzzle for Aug. 20, No. 535.

Looking for the most recent Strands answer? Click here for our daily Strands hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Mini Crossword, Wordle, Connections and Connections: Sports Edition puzzles.

Today’s NYT Strands puzzle is a tough one. It helps to know a little something about different currencies, but there was one on there that was completely new to me. If you need hints and answers for today’s Strands puzzle, read on.

I go into depth about the rules for Strands in this story.

If you’re looking for today’s Wordle, Connections and Mini Crossword answers, you can visit CNET’s NYT puzzle hints page.

Read more: NYT Connections Turns 1: These Are the 5 Toughest Puzzles So Far

Hint for today’s Strands puzzle

Today’s Strands theme is: Mint condition

If that doesn’t help you, here’s a clue: We’re in the money!

Clue words to unlock in-game hints

Your goal is to find hidden words that fit the puzzle’s theme. If you’re stuck, find any words you can. Every time you find three words of four letters or more, Strands will reveal one of the theme words. These are the words I used to get those hints but any words of four or more letters that you find will work:

GULP, GLOB, LORE, DOLL, DOLE, DOLED, ROPE, ROPER, WALL

Answers for today’s Strands puzzle

These are the answers that tie into the theme. The goal of the puzzle is to find them all, including the spangram, a theme word that reaches from one side of the puzzle to the other. When you have all of them (I originally thought there were always eight but learned that the number can vary), every letter on the board will be used. Here are the nonspangram answers:

EURO, PESO, DOLLAR, POUND, RAND, RUPEE, KWANZA

Today’s Strands spangram

Today’s Strands spangram is GLOBALCURRENCY. To find it, look for the G that’s four letters to the right on the very top row, and wind down.

Technologies

Today’s NYT Mini Crossword Answers for Wednesday, Aug. 20

Here are the answers for The New York Times Mini Crossword for Aug. 20.

Looking for the most recent Mini Crossword answer? Click here for today’s Mini Crossword hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Wordle, Strands, Connections and Connections: Sports Edition puzzles.

Today’s NYT Mini Crossword has a few challenging clues (4-Down threw me off), but it’s mostly OK. Need some help with today’s Mini Crossword? Read on. And if you could use some hints and guidance for daily solving, check out our Mini Crossword tips.

If you’re looking for today’s Wordle, Connections, Connections: Sports Edition and Strands answers, you can visit CNET’s NYT puzzle hints page.

Read more: Tips and Tricks for Solving The New York Times Mini Crossword

Let’s get to those Mini Crossword clues and answers.