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Samsung Galaxy S23 Phone (AT&T or Verizon): 256GB S23 Ultra $700, 128GB S23 Expired

$400
$799.99
& More w/ Activation (new line or account) + Free Shipping
+34 Deal Score
61,821 Views
Note: Our links may go to a product variant that is out of stock or not included in this deal. Please use the available sorting options on the product page to select the available items on sale.

Best Buy has Select Samsung Galaxy S23 Phone (Phantom Black, AT&T or Verizon) on sale below for prices starting from $399.99 with Activation (new line or account). Shipping is free.
  • Note: Choose "(Activate Today) with new line or account"
Thanks to community member gadgetNerd for finding this deal.

Available:
  • 128GB Samsung Galaxy S23 (Phantom Black) $399.99
  • 256GB Samsung Galaxy S23 (Phantom Black) $559.99
  • 256GB Samsung Galaxy S23 (Phantom Black) Ultra $699.99
  • 256GB Samsung Galaxy S23+ (Phantom Black) $499.99

Original Post

Written by
Edited March 4, 2024 at 11:40 AM by
https://www.bestbuy.com/site/sams...Id=6530811

S23 for $399
S23+ for 499
S23U for $699

You can choose ATT or Verizon version. VZW one unlocks after 60 days even if you cancel the account. For ATT read below for instant unlock.

1. There are two timelines for the cancellation. If you cancel a line before 3 days it was active then the activation fee is waived. If you cancel it within 14 days from activation under buyers remorse then no bill is charged but activation fees need to be paid. The line activates on right when you place the order not the day you receive the phone on hand so you might have to pay the activation fee of $35.
2. You can use a tello number and port to ATT but you would have to make sure porting is successful by going to https://www.att.com/portstatus/.
3. You can use SIM swap method method to unlock the device.
4. When you receive the phone activate it on ATT with the SIM provided. Make sure it shows up on myATT app/in the web so ATT knows and registers the IMEI in the network. Then put the SIM in another unlocked phone, reboot, make some calls and make sure this unlocked phone is now showing under the line in app/web portal.
5. Now go to ATT unlock portal https://www.att.com/deviceunlock/ and then choose not an ATT customer and use the IMEI of s23 and submit an unlock request.
6.Confirm the unlock request email and receive the unlock code.
7. Only cancel the line after you have unlocked the phone.

Then after unlocking if you are feeling adventurous and want to flash the phone to an unlocked firmware to get rid of ATT bloat you can follow these steps. It's actually very easy to do with Odin.

1. There are many models of s23U but in US two models are imp. S918U is carrier locked version and S918U1 is the unlocked US version. The firmware for these versions are interchangeable so you can flash the ATT model with S918U1 firmware.
2. Download patched odin v3.14.1_3B_PatchedD.zip from https://xdaforums.com/t/patched-o...1.3762572/ as regular odin does not allow flashing mismatched firmware.
3. Download the firmware from S918U1 XAA version from https://samfrew.com/firmware/mode.../Desc/0/10 Extract as there will be multiple files.
4. Connect S23U to the windows PC. Make sure developer mode is turned on in the phone.
5 .Put s23u in download/recovery/odin mode. Power down. Press Volume up and down together and then press Volume up to go into recovery (a green screen would appear).
6. Start odin and then select different files for different categories and then start.
7, It should be now the US unlocked version.
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Deal
Score
+34
61,821 Views
$400
$799.99

Price Intelligence

Model: Samsung - Galaxy S23 128GB - Phantom Black (AT&T)

Deal Historyย 

Sort: Most Recent
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03/20/24Best Buy$300 frontpage
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02/23/24Best Buy$449.99
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Community Wiki

Last Edited by gadgetNerd March 9, 2024 at 02:07 PM
You can choose ATT or Verizon version. VZW one unlocks after 60 days even if you cancel the account. For ATT read below for instant unlock.

1. There are two timelines for the cancellation. If you cancel a line before 3 days it was active then the activation fee is waived. If you cancel it within 14 days from activation under buyers remorse then no bill is charged but activation fees need to be paid. The line activates on right when you place the order not the day you receive the phone on hand so you might have to pay the activation fee of $35.
2. You can use a tello number and port to ATT but you would have to make sure porting is successful by going to https://www.att.com/portstatus/.
3. You can use SIM swap method method to unlock the device.
4. When you receive the phone activate it on ATT with the SIM provided. Make sure it shows up on myATT app/in the web so ATT knows and registers the IMEI in the network. Then put the SIM in another unlocked phone, reboot, make some calls and make sure this unlocked phone is now showing under the line in app/web portal.
5. Now go to ATT unlock portal https://www.att.com/deviceunlock/ and then choose not an ATT customer and use the IMEI of s23 and submit an unlock request.
6.Confirm the unlock request email and receive the unlock code.
7. Only cancel the line after you have unlocked the phone.

Then after unlocking if you are feeling adventurous and want to flash the phone to an unlocked firmware to get rid of ATT bloat you can follow these steps. It's actually very easy to do with Odin.

1. There are many models of s23U but in US two models are imp. S918U is carrier locked version and S918U1 is the unlocked US version. The firmware for these versions are interchangeable so you can flash the ATT model with S918U1 firmware.
2. Download patched odin v3.14.1_3B_PatchedD.zip from https://xdaforums.com/t/patched-o...1.3762572/ as regular odin does not allow flashing mismatched firmware.
3. Download the firmware from S918U1 XAA version from https://samfrew.com/firmware/mode.../Desc/0/10 Extract as there will be multiple files.
4. Connect S23U to the windows PC. Make sure developer mode is turned on in the phone.
5 .Put s23u in download/recovery/odin mode. Power down. Press Volume up and down together and then press Volume up to go into recovery (a green screen would appear).
6. Start odin and then select different files for different categories and then start.
7, It should be now the US unlocked version.


Cancellation of the ATT account and bill thereafter

== Will ATT send me a bill after the account is cancelled?

Firstly, keep the ATT buyers remorse policy handy when you talk to them. See https://www.att.com/wireless/return-policy/ click on "Consumer and Signature Customer Program Devices and Accessories" and here are the policy terms

"Service Cancellations within 14 Days.โ€ฏYou may call us at 800-331-0500 to cancel wireless service. You are responsible for all applicable fees, prorated access charges, taxes, surcharges, or other charges through the termination date. AT&T will refund your activation fee, if any, if service is terminated within 3 days of activation. The charges for service used on the account before the service termination date may be applied against any down payment."

ATT will send you a bill with the full amount even after you cancel your account so you have to do couple of things to get rid of charges.

1. When you open the bill in myATT app/att website there will be something called "Don't recognize this fee" under the activation. You can click on it to get rid of a activation fee. This is an instant and automatic credit. Also this works even if you cancelled the account after 3 days.

2. Chat with CS to get rid of rest of the charges. Make sure to not fall for credit in the next bill/adjusted in the next bill, Be polite but persistent that you want charges to be credited now. Bring up the polict if you have to.

See https://slickdeals.net/f/17327499-oneplus-nord-n30-5g-128gb-unlocked-chromatic-gray-cph2513-best-buy-0 recent interactions with ATT CS.

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Featured Comments

if they don't already have an att or verizon account, getting one takes a hard pull (credit check) which has a moderate impact on credit (which is very important in the US). It's a nuissance.
It may also take time to figure out why the order doesn't go through and/or it gets canceled, etc. In other words, don't make a friend or relative do it for you.
$300 savings over the S24 ultra. Not much of a deal.

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dealhuntah7
03-15-2024 at 10:49 PM.
03-15-2024 at 10:49 PM.
What's the SIM swap method?
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gadgetNerd
03-16-2024 at 12:14 AM.
03-16-2024 at 12:14 AM.
Quote from dealhuntah7 :
What's the SIM swap method?

See the wiki.
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> bubble2 8 Posts
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dealhuntah7
03-16-2024 at 12:22 AM.
03-16-2024 at 12:22 AM.
Quote from gadgetNerd :
See the wiki.
Got it, misread earlier. Thought that the sim swap was something that's not included in the steps.

I'm still slightly confused though. When I add the AT&T S23+ to cart, Bestbuy's site immediately prompts me to input whether I already have a number. Do I need to buy a Tello sim in advance and activate that or should I port over a Google Voice number?
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dealhuntah7
03-16-2024 at 12:46 AM.
03-16-2024 at 12:46 AM.
Quote from gadgetNerd :
You get a Google Voice number for free and then pay $3 to unlock it to get it ported for this deal
I can't seem to claim a Google Voice number for some odd reason. When it asks me for my actual regular number, it doesn't let me.
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gadgetNerd
03-16-2024 at 12:54 AM.
03-16-2024 at 12:54 AM.
Quote from dealhuntah7 :
Got it, misread earlier. Thought that the sim swap was something that's not included in the steps.

I'm still slightly confused though. When I add the AT&T S23+ to cart, Bestbuy's site immediately prompts me to input whether I already have a number. Do I need to buy a Tello sim in advance and activate that or should I port over a Google Voice number?

If you want to do it all online then you need to port a number. Otherwise you can get a new number in BB with a store appointment. You will see that option underneath the "transfer your number". You might want to get a new number in store to be able to cancel the line immediately to avoid activation fee
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gadgetNerd
03-16-2024 at 12:55 AM.
03-16-2024 at 12:55 AM.
Quote from dealhuntah7 :
I can't seem to claim a Google Voice number for some odd reason. When it asks me for my actual regular number, it doesn't let me.

I'm not sure but may be they ran out numbers in that area code but normally they give a nearby area code number.
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dealhuntah7
03-16-2024 at 12:59 AM.
03-16-2024 at 12:59 AM.
Quote from gadgetNerd :
I'm not sure but may be they ran out numbers in that area code but normally they give a nearby area code number.
Reading elsewhere that one's # can only be used once or maybe once every few years at most to verify. Guess I'm going to have to get a # in-store.
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> bubble2 68 Posts
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fmtanweer
03-17-2024 at 12:06 PM.
03-17-2024 at 12:06 PM.
I had success unlocking the device today. Unlock process was a breeze and was such a short process with just a 2 minute wait. I'm going to cancel the ATT service tomorrow.
About the ATT bloatware. What are the pro & cons of removing it? (I'm going to be using the phone on with tmobile )
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gadgetNerd
03-17-2024 at 10:06 PM.
03-17-2024 at 10:06 PM.
Quote from fmtanweer :
I had success unlocking the device today. Unlock process was a breeze and was such a short process with just a 2 minute wait. I'm going to cancel the ATT service tomorrow.
About the ATT bloatware. What are the pro & cons of removing it? (I'm going to be using the phone on with tmobile )

If you need a clean software with no ATT boot animation then that's the way to go. I think it does not void the warranty as you are flashing the unlocked samsung image but that will be a con. If you end up flashing and then have to send it to Samsung for repair you can flash the ATT image.
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gadgetNerd
03-17-2024 at 11:16 PM.
03-17-2024 at 11:16 PM.
FYI, they dropped the price by $50 across all s23 models.
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> bubble2 39 Posts
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goalshot
03-18-2024 at 03:23 AM.
03-18-2024 at 03:23 AM.
If I choose shipping, do att automatically activated during shipping, or do I need to manually activate it after it arrives?
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gadgetNerd
03-18-2024 at 10:00 AM.
03-18-2024 at 10:00 AM.
Quote from goalshot :
If I choose shipping, do att automatically activated during shipping, or do I need to manually activate it after it arrives?

The account gets activated right before BB ships the phone out to you. Once you receive the phone you will need the activate the phone using the SIM card that they sent.
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mplouisville
03-18-2024 at 05:09 PM.
03-18-2024 at 05:09 PM.
Does Verizon too return the activation and monthly charges?
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03-18-2024 at 07:44 PM.
03-18-2024 at 07:44 PM.
Quote from mplouisville :
Does Verizon too return the activation and monthly charges?

Yes, 3 days for activation, 30 days to cancel https://www.verizon.com/support/return-policy/
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goalshot
03-19-2024 at 06:01 AM.
03-19-2024 at 06:01 AM.
Quote from gadgetNerd :
The account gets activated right before BB ships the phone out to you. Once you receive the phone you will need the activate the phone using the SIM card that they sent.
thanks. so if shipping takes more than 3 days then the only way to avoid activation fee is going to store right?
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