I'm a phone reviewer - these are the 5 early Prime Day phone deals I'd recommend

• Current price: $1,019 (23% off)
• Original price: $1,319

Google's Pixel 10 Pro XL remains one of the best flagship Android phones you can buy right now. Powered by the Tensor G5 processor and backed by 16GB of RAM, the handset delivers fast, fluid performance whether you're handling everyday tasks or multitasking between apps. It serves as the foundation for Google's Gemini platform, giving users access to the company's growing suite of advanced AI features.

The phone's 6.8-inch Super Actua display is equally impressive, offering vibrant colors, sharp detail, and up to 3,300 nits of peak brightness for excellent visibility outdoors. Camera performance remains one of the Pixel's biggest strengths. ZDNET Editor-in-Chief Kerry Wan described it as the "most forgiving camera system on the market," thanks to AI-enhanced image processing, producing detailed, well-balanced shots.

Also: Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra vs. Google Pixel 10 Pro XL: This one's seriously close

• Current price: $1,050 (19% off)
• Original price: $1,300

The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra isn't a major upgrade from its predecessor. Instead, it successfully refines an already winning formula with a sleeker design, smarter software features, and several meaningful quality-of-life improvements. Its standout feature is Privacy Display, which obscures the screen's view at certain angles to keep sensitive information hidden from nearby onlookers. Powering the flagship is Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processor, delivering flagship performance. Whether you're juggling multiple apps or playing demanding mobile games, the Galaxy S26 Ultra will stay fast, responsive, and remarkably smooth.

Longevity is another major strength, as the phone's 5,000 mAh battery comfortably lasts a full day. After testing the Galaxy S26 Ultra, ZDNET Contributing Writer Prakhar Khanna found that the device still had roughly 25% battery remaining after an entire day of use. 

Review: Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra

• Current price: $1,770 (17% off)
• Original price: $2,120

Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 7 sits at the premium end of foldable smartphones, combining flagship performance with one of the most versatile form factors available today. Like the Galaxy S26 Ultra, it runs on Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Elite processor, providing the power needed for multitasking and the company's AI-powered features.

When closed, the Fold 7 functions like a traditional smartphone thanks to its spacious 6.5-inch outer display. Open it up, however, and the device transforms into an 8-inch mini tablet. The larger inner display is perfect for reading, gaming, and working across several apps, making the Galaxy Z Fold 7 surprisingly effective at productivity tasks. You can have one app on one half of the screen and another on the other half.

Samsung also equipped the phone with a 200MP main camera that captures highly detailed images with excellent clarity.

Review: Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7

• Current price: $352 (12% off)
• Original price: $400

The Moto G Stylus may be a midrange smartphone, but it's far more capable than its price tag suggests. Powered by Qualcomm's Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 processor, the device can handle heavy multitasking, numerous apps running simultaneously, and even graphically demanding mobile games better than the other phones in Motorola's 2025 Moto G lineup.

It also features a 6.7-inch AMOLED Super HD screen with a 120Hz refresh rate and up to 3,000 nits of peak brightness. Colors look rich and vibrant, while the high refresh rate makes on-screen animations look exceptionally smooth. Paired with Dolby Atmos stereo speakers, the display creates one of the best multimedia experiences you'll find on a midrange mobile device.

Review: Moto G Stylus

• Current price: $470 (53% off)
• Original price: $999

Motorola's Razr Ultra introduced some of the significant changes the series has ever seen, transforming the device into a true flagship and a legit rival to the Galaxy Z Flip 7. One of the more notable changes is the new titanium-reinforced hinge, which makes the phone feel quite sturdy and more durable than the previous generation. Its curved sides make the phone comfortable to hold. The combination of bold material choices and vibrant finishes helps the Razr Ultra stand out in a sea of generic black phones. Under the hood, it is powered by Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Elite processor, giving it the kind of performance you'd expect from a high-end device.

Review: Motorola Razr Ultra (2025)

When is Amazon Prime Day? 

Amazon Prime Day 2026 officially runs from June 23 through June 26. However, as mentioned earlier, early smartphone deals are already appearing well before the event begins. In fact, many brands and retailers typically roll out discounts in the weeks leading up to Prime Day, so shoppers may start seeing stronger phone deals in the next week or so.

How did we choose these early Amazon Prime Day deals?

At ZDNET, we only recommend smartphone deals that we would personally consider buying, testing, or recommending to friends and family, including you, our readers. To build this roundup, we looked for meaningful discounts on certain devices or a deal on a phone that rarely goes on sale. We also used established price-comparison tools and trackers to determine how good an offer is and how often it drops. 

Beyond the numbers, we took into account our own hands-on testing and reviews, as well as real-world experience from customers who already own these devices. Many of the phones featured have been thoroughly evaluated by ZDNET's in-house expert, assessing their performance, battery life, cameras, displays, and overall value. Our goal is simple: we aim to cut through all the noise and find the best smartphone deals that are actually worth your money.