The three US wireless carriers really want to sell you a Galaxy S21—as long as you kick them some money.
The new Samsung Galaxy S21 lineup presents a big chance for wireless carriers to lock you in for the next few years. Fortunately, with support for the new C-band spectrum, they’re relatively future-proofed, so they’ll be able to hop onto upcoming 5G networks as well as the ones currently out there.
The Galaxy S21 series will be available everywhere. Unlike last year, there will be only one physical S21, S21+, and S21 Ultra model across all three US carriers, so any phone you buy in the US should work with any US 4G or 5G carrier. (There will still be different models in different countries, though.)
- At AT&T, you can get up to $800 off a new phone, but there are some caveats. You have to trade in your previous phone, buy it on a 30-month installment plan, and have an eligible unlimited data plan.
- T-Mobile has a few deals. If you buy a Galaxy S21 series phone and add a new line, T-Mobile will rebate the price of a second phone dragged out over 24 months. Alternatively, it’ll also take trade-ins to reduce the price of a new phone, with the highest-value trade-ins making the lowest-priced S21 free.
- Verizon offers switchers a 128GB S21+ if they sign up for new Unlimited plans and trade in their phones; current customers can get up to $600 on a trade-in. Current customers who add new lines and buy an S21 series can get another phone valued up to $1,000 for free.
AT&T and Verizon are also offering discounts on cases and accessories—AT&T in-store only, but Verizon also online during the pre-order period.
If you don’t intend to add a line or trade in a phone, Samsung itself probably has the best deals—an accessories credit if you pre-order a device between now and Jan. 28. They’ll give you $100 for an S21, $150 with an S21+, and $200 with an S21 Ultra, and they have trade-in deals, too.
The phones go on sale in carrier stores Jan. 29. We’ll have a review before then.
