Best Buy, Amazon Cut Up to $300 Off Phones in Labor Day Sale

Q: With rumors of a dual-camera successor, is buying Apple's discounted first-generation iPhone Air actually a smart move today?

Yes—if you value the thin, light design more than camera flexibility and battery life, the discounted first-generation iPhone Air is a reasonable buy today. If those compromises bother you, waiting makes more sense. At $849.99 for the 256GB model, the Air is notably cheaper than its $999 launch price and much easier to justify than it was at release. Reviews and long-term user impressions broadly agree on its strengths: an unusually thin 5.6mm body, low weight, a roomy 6.5-inch display, and strong performance from the A19 Pro chip. For everyday use, it remains a high-end iPhone. The catch is that the main complaints about the Air have not changed. It has only one rear camera, no ultrawide or telephoto option, and battery life trails other iPhones. Multiple reviews say those are the two biggest compromises, and they matter more over time than the novelty of the thin design for many buyers. That matters because the rumored successor is said to address exactly those weaknesses, with a second rear camera and improved battery life, though reports point to a spring 2027 launch rather than an imminent release. That means waiting could take several months, but the upgrade path is meaningful, not cosmetic. So the smart move depends on urgency. If you need a phone now and specifically want Apple’s thinnest iPhone, the Labor Day discount makes the current Air more defensible. If photography versatility and longevity are priorities, the rumored next model is likely the better target.

3 articles · Updated · Lifehacker · Sep 4

$300 off the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra is the biggest Labor Day phone discount highlighted, dropping the foldable from $2,099.99 to $1,799.99 at Amazon.
Samsung dominates the sale list: Amazon cut the Galaxy Z Flip 8 by $150, while Best Buy trimmed the Galaxy S26 by $125 and the Galaxy S26 Ultra by $250.
Apple deals are smaller but notable, with Best Buy lowering the 256GB iPhone Air by $150 to $849.99 ahead of expected new iPhone announcements next week.
A refurbished iPhone 13 mini fell $151 to $224, offering the cheapest option for buyers who still want a compact iPhone.
Labor Day smartphone promotions are less common than Black Friday or Prime Day deals, but this year's sale runs through Monday, Sept. 7, amid higher tech prices tied to a memory crunch.