This Black Friday is shaping up to be another cracking day of deals, with offers on everything from a shiny new pair of shoes to a brand-spanking-new 4K TV.

Black Friday is a great time to save on phones too; whether you're looking to pick up a new handset for less or it's about time you got yourself a competitive contract, you'll find plenty of deals offering hefty discounts.

To help you get the very most out of your savings this Black Friday, we've put together this handy page packed full of tips, tricks, advice and even links to deals to get you off to a running start.

So, let's get to it!

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What is Black Friday? 

Originally started to boost sales following the Thanksgiving holidays, Black Friday has now grown to be a global phenomenon. We've been seeing more and more Black Friday deals and discounts in the UK over the last couple of years, and 2018 is all set to be another big bonanza.

This year Black Friday is on the 23rd of September, but we've already been seeing some early deals from eager retailers in the lead-up to the big day. Some stores and services have even decided to stretch the fun out even further, by offering deals for an entire week or more!

What kind of mobile deals should I look out for on Black Friday?

The National: Mobile phone dealsMobile phone deals

It can be hard to tell exactly what mobile deals we'll be seeing on Black Friday, but we're here with some predictions and recommendations of what sort of deals you should keep your eyes peeled for. We've even got info on some early discounts for good measure.

Handsets — Usually a little pricey to buy outright, Black Friday is a good chance to save a fair bit on the cost of the latest handsets on the market. The two biggest handsets this Black Friday are likely to be the Samsung S9 and iPhone XR, but there's likely to be lots of competition over these — so be sure to get in there early.

There'll also be discounts on handsets from other manufactures too, like the Huawei P20 Lite which is already going for £229** at Mobiles.co.uk*.

SIM Only — Picking up a SIM only contract can be the most effective way of running your phone if you already have a handset that you're happy with. Whether you're looking to pick up a long running contract, or a simple 30 day plan, you'll find plenty of offers on Black Friday.

Contracts — Stretching your Black Friday savings well beyond the day itself is more than just a dream when it comes to deals on mobile contracts. Black Friday discounts on mobile contracts can really add up over the months, making it a great time to get a new contract.

Lots of the big providers are expected to offer discounts on contracts this year, with EE Mobile*, Tesco Mobile* and Virgin Mobile set to have deals running on both SIM and phone contracts.

Tablets In addition to phones, there'll also be lots of offers on tablets and other handheld devices this Black Friday. You'll be able to save on eReaders like Kindle models from Amazon*, the latest tablets like the Samsung Tab S4 from Argos* and iPads from Currys*.

Which stores should I visit for mobile deals on Black Friday?

Most of the biggest mobiles stores will be offering discounts this Black Friday, but there a few that you should keep a very close eye on for the best deals. We've put together some of our favourites picks for deals this Black Friday below:

  • Vodafone* — As one of the UK's biggest mobile providers, it'll be no surprise to hear that Vodafone usually get right into the fun on Black Friday.
    So far Vodafone have been tight-lipped about their deals for 2018 but looking back at last year we can expect offers on the latest handsets as well as discounts on accessories, including smartwatches and tablets.
  • O2*— Like Vodafone, O2 haven't revealed any of their offers for this year, but last year their deals were quite expansive, covering everything from savings on the then-new iPhone 8 to discounts on generous high data SIM-only contracts.
  • EE Mobile* — EE Mobile were also very generous with their offers last year, which included a hefty £149.99** off on a 128GB iPhone SE. We're likely to see some similarly deep savings in 2018, so be sure to keep your eyes peeled and sign up to the EE newsletter for their latest offers.
  • Carphone Warehouse* —Proving to be eager beavers, Carphone Warehouse have already started their Black Friday discounts for 2018, so we recommend looking to see what they have going right now!

Some of our favourite deals from this year at Carphone Warehouse include £200** off the Huawei P20, £100** savings on an Apple iPhone 8 contract and a £20** discount on a Google Home Mini device.

  • Mobiles.co.uk* — Too impatient to wait until the 23rd, Mobiles.co.uk have already started their deals, with 7 days of fantastic offers. These offers will change every day, so we can't say exactly what you'll find, but so far, they've included 1/2 price off any accessories you add to your order.

Black Friday top tip: Android or iOS?

The National: Android of iOSAndroid of iOS

This is a big point of contention amongst phone users, but there's an easy way to decide when it comes to deals on Black Friday. It's best to stick with the system you have already been using, since this will make switching over to a new phone far easier.

If you feel like making a change and a particular Black Friday deal has caught your eye, then that's okay! Switching over from iOS to Android isn't impossible - just be sure to back up any files that you've saved to the cloud, since you might not be able to access them again after the switch.

We also recommend not getting too caught up in the moment with the deals on Black Friday; always make sure to do your research in advance and spend your money on a phone that will serve your needs well.

So there we have it, armed with our tips and tricks you should be prepared to take advantage of some fantastic money saving opportunities this Black Friday - just remember to check here for deals and discounts on the day.

Have fun shopping!

**offers correct as of 19/11/18