If you can hear the sound of a shiny new iPhone calling to you, Black Friday is just around the corner, so you might be able to save money on your next smartphone upgrade.
Whether you’ve got your eye on the latest iPhone 18 Pro, the cheaper iPhone 17 or iPhone 17e, Black Friday is one of the best times of the year to pick up a new smartphone for less.
As IndyBest’s tech editor, I’ve spent a decade covering the best iPhone deals and hunting down the best Black Friday savings, so I know how to spot a decent offer. I will only recommend the deals that I think offer genuine value for money.
Below, I’ve rounded up everything you need to know about Black Friday 2026, including the iPhones that are most likely to be discounted, the kinds of savings you can expect, and the best deals to shop right now, ahead of the November sale.
Read more: Best Black Friday deals to expect
When will iPhone Black Friday deals start in 2026?
Officially speaking, Black Friday takes place on Friday 27 November 2026 this year but, as any Black Friday aficionado knows, the sales tend to start way ahead of the official date. In fact, based on last year's sales, I'd expect the first discounts to start appearing towards the end of October.
Last year, iD Mobile kicked off its Black Friday sale on 29 October, with John Lewis and Currys beginning their sales on 30 October. Argos launched its sale on 31 October and Very started its Black Friday extravaganza on 3 November.
Most of the mobile phone carriers also kicked off their sales ahead of time, with O2 starting to drop deals on 6 November and Three launching its Black Friday sale on 14 November.
Uswitch has already announced that it will begin its Black Friday iPhone deals on Monday 2 November. If you're looking for a new iPhone contract, you’ll likely find something cheap well before the main event rolls around on 27 November.
Of course, keep in mind that, even though a retailer may launch its Black Friday sale early, not all of its best Black Friday deals will drop at once. Retailers will continue slashing prices up to the big day, or even wait until the week of Black Friday to launch their best iPhone savings.
Will Apple have a Black Friday sale in 2026?
In a way. While Apple does run its own Black Friday shopping event, it doesn't actually slash the prices of its iPhones. Instead of a discount, it gives shoppers an Apple gift card when they buy an eligible product.
Last year, Apple's Black Friday event ran from 28 November to 1 December – the entirety of Black Friday weekend. Shoppers received a £60 gift card when they bought an iPhone 16 or iPhone 16 Plus, or a £40 gift card when they bought the iPhone 16e. Sadly, the then-new iPhone 17 range was excluded from the promotion.
I’m expecting Apple’s Black Friday sale to begin on Friday 27 November this year, ending on Cyber Monday on 30 November. I don’t think Apple will offer up gift cards in exchange for the iPhone 18 Pro, sadly, but it’s highly likely to provide a gift card in exchange for the regular iPhone 17 and iPhone 17e.
What iPhone Black Friday deals can we expect to see in 2026?
Firstly, don’t expect to see any deals on the iPhone Duo. Carriers might have Black Friday deals where they slash the price of a contract, but given the iPhone Duo is out of stock until January 2027, don’t expect any massive savings. You might not receive the phone for quite some time anyway.
So what iPhone discounts could we see? I’m expecting to see the steepest discounts on the regular iPhone 17. One benefit of Apple punting the launch of the regular iPhone 18 to next spring is that it’s been out way longer than any iPhone in the past, so retailers are more likely to slash it in price this year.
There might even be some small savings on the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max. Last year, John Lewis took a modest £10 off the iPhone 17 Pro, even though it had just launched. The best savings could be found at mobile retailers such as Uswitch and Carphone Warehouse, however.
Uswitch had a phenomenal deal with iD Mobile on the iPhone 17 Pro for Black Friday. It was offering 500GB of data for £119 up front and £43.99 per month over 24 months. That worked out to £1,174.76 in total, which is just £75.76 more than the £1,099 cost of the handset. You were essentially paying just £3.16 per month for your mobile contract, significantly less than you’d typically pay for a SIM-only plan with that much data.
Carphone Warehouse had an equally impressive offer on the regular iPhone 17. It had a contract, also with iD Mobile, for £159 up front and £29.99 per month over 24 months, with 500GB of data. That totalled £878.76, which was £79.76 more than buying the handset outright, so you were effectively paying £3.32 per month for the contract.
All that said, we might see some tiny savings on the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max, and some decent contract deals on the iPhone 18 Pro with heavily reduced sim prices.
The best iPhone deals to shop now
iPhone 17 Pro
With the launch of the iPhone 18 Pro, retailers are starting to slash the price of the older – soon to be discontinued – iPhone 17 Pro. One of the most iconic-looking iPhones to date, it’s still one of the best iPhones you can buy and it has come down in price by £100 at several retailers. Tech critic David Phelan was impressed by the model, giving it five stars in his iPhone 17 Pro review. The Apple iPhone 17 Pro features novel technology such as the brand’s advanced screen protection technology, Ceramic Shield 2, a wider camera panel that allows for more room for the battery and a 3,000-nit screen brightness.
Buy now £999, Argos.co.uk
Why you can trust IndyBest’s coverage of iPhone deals this Black Friday
Alex Lee is IndyBest’s tech editor and has been hunting down the best Apple Black Friday deals for an entire decade, so he knows how to spot a stellar offer. He can be relied upon to bring you news of all the latest deals and price updates on Apple’s iPhones this Black Friday and beyond.
For more bargains, check out our guide to the best Black Friday deals to expect in 2026
