TL;DR: Skip the carrier contracts and check Best Buy trade-ins or the 8a model instead if you want actual value. ^ This. Also, I was looking at those official bundles earlier and honestly, they are such a letdown this year. I had high hopes because previous launches were legendary, but the trade-in values for the Google Pixel 8 128GB Unlocked are just okay. Unfortunately, I had issues with the carrier promos too... they basically trap you in a three-year contract just to save a few hundred bucks. I tried to upgrade my old mans phone through a carrier deal last week and it was a nightmare. The bill credits take forever to kick in and you're forced onto their most expensive unlimited plans. Not as good as expected, ngl. If your dad isnt a power user, the Google Pixel 8a 128GB Obsidian is a much smarter buy right now. It feels almost identical in hand and you save a ton upfront. Also, dont bother with the official case bundles. I bought one and it started peeling in months... just grab a Spigen Liquid Air Case for Pixel 8 separately. Way more durable for a fraction of the price.

> Has anyone spotted any early Black Friday or Cyber Monday deals for 2024? Been digging into the specs lately and ngl the Tensor G3 in that phone is a massive jump in efficiency compared to the older chips. In my experience, these holiday cycles follow a pretty predictable pattern every year. Honestly, just get any bundle from the Google Store directly if you want the cleanest setup for your dad. They usually toss in some extras like a case or accessories for almost nothing during the peak sales week. I've tried many different retailers over the years and carriers like Verizon or T-Mobile usually have the best math if you're okay with a plan. Like someone mentioned, the prices are already sliding down, but the Google Store trade-in deals are usually the gold standard for tech enthusiasts who want to keep things simple. Just go with whatever bundle they're pushing on the front page and you cant go wrong.

Currently already $200 off at Amazon US.