2 weeks Ago By Janhoi McGregor, Senior Contributor
Samsung Galaxy S25 (left) and Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra (right). (Photo by Firdous Nazir/NurPhoto via ..
. More Getty Images) Despite the threat of $2300 iPhones and Sony’s sudden PS5 price rise , no smartphones have been affected by proposed tariffs yet. That includes the perpetually discounted Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra, which has received another major price drop.
Best Buy has slashed the price of the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra (unlocked) by $120. The Galaxy S25 Plus is also $120 cheaper, while the base Galaxy S25 has been discounted by $60. Best Buy has coupled this sale with enhanced trade-in pricing.
Best Buy’s swap pricing doesn’t match up to Samsung’s direct trade-in valuations —few companies do—but there are some reasonable prices here. Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max - $195. Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max - $210 (this isn’t a mistake, the 12 fetches a higher price than the 13).
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra - $270. There is a stark difference in what Best Buy will pay for some devices compared to Samsung , which highlights how much the latter inflates its valuations in the name of competition. Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra - Best Buy price: $85, Samsung price: $300 Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra - Best Buy price: $100, Samsung price: $500 Google Pixel 7 Pro, Best Buy price: $100, Samsung price: $150 Where Best Buy beats the competition is that it will accept a trade-in without the need for a purchase, instead offering shoppers store credit to use at a later date.
The retailer also accepts a wider range of devices, including LG, Sony Motorola, and even Microsoft handsets. The prices for these less popular handsets are measly, though. For example.
Your OnePlus 9 Pro is valued at $5, while your Microsoft Surface Duo 2, which cost $1,499 at launch, is now worth $10. Best Buy’s trade-in prices are worth it for the simplicity of swapping your device in, to buy the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra, compared to selling it on the secondary market. There are no seller fees, no need to create a listing, no dealing with refunds or buyers' questions.
You will pay for that smoother process, though, because a device such as the iPhone 13 Pro Max will sell for upwards of $450 on eBay (depending on its condition). That’s a huge difference to Best Buy’s $195 price..
