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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
Good Deal?

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
Post Date Sold By Sale Price Activity
04/14/24Best Buy$250 frontpage
440
04/09/24Best Buy$299
1
03/20/24Best Buy$300 frontpage
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03/17/24AT&T Wireless$349
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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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gadgetNerd
03-04-2024 at 02:47 PM.
03-04-2024 at 02:47 PM.
Quote from MrShawn :
Usually firmware updates have a little disclaimer that may make people not want to learn to do it. Sounds simple. But I can also give you a soldering iron an show you how simple cutting wires an tinning them, wicking an applying it is. Does it mean you would want to do that? I've had some firmware updates fail but lucky somehow the devices still worked. Tho not how they were meant to exactly. An i thought flashing a device registers a mark in the system as modded? Why I stopped modding a decade ago was they lock you out of certain features. Like highly secure apps. Samsung in specific was the first one when they created Knox. Was Knox removed an I don't know? You'd have to look that up. If I recall last time I heard someone say you can set Knox counters back. But then someone said that it still showed.

Firmware updates using ODIN is just selecting file and clicking flash. We are not flashing over adb. Knox does not complain as this is still a Samsung image just for the unlocked phone.
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Last edited by gadgetNerd March 4, 2024 at 03:03 PM.
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gadgetNerd
03-04-2024 at 02:49 PM.
03-04-2024 at 02:49 PM.
Quote from SDRebel :
att phone has to stay active for 60 days, unlike verizon

Not really according to their policy

From https://www.att.com/support/artic...KM1262649/
Was paid in full when you bought it (it was not purchased on an installment plan). You must WAIT 60 days from your purchase date to submit an unlock request.

I don't know if someone verified it or not though and CS reps will happily tell you that you have to be active.
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gadgetNerd
03-04-2024 at 02:50 PM.
03-04-2024 at 02:50 PM.
Quote from FreeCake :
$300 savings over the S24 ultra. Not much of a deal.

Depends on how you look at it. There are a group of people who believe S23U is better than S24U
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gadgetNerd
03-04-2024 at 02:53 PM.
03-04-2024 at 02:53 PM.
Quote from dodojojo :
I can get an unlocked s24 for 600 with a s9 trade in. $200 difference but then there's the $35 Verizon activation fee. And the cheapest Verizon plan is $75. Have to be active for 2 months right before the phone unlocks? So that is $185. That $200 difference is now $15.

For VZW you don't have to be active and many verified that it unlocks after 60 days automatically from https://www.verizon.com/about/con...ing-policy


"Postpay Device Unlocking Policy

Devices that you purchase from Verizon are locked for 60 days after purchase. Devices that you purchase from our retail partners are locked for 60 days after activation. After 60 days, we will automatically remove the lock. Following the 60 day lock period, we do not lock our phones at any time. "

You are going to cancel the line after you get the phone so no activation fee plus plan changes.

If you are going to use it on other networks then ATT is better as you can instantly unlock it using the SIM swap method mentioned above.
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schnitter
03-04-2024 at 03:46 PM.
03-04-2024 at 03:46 PM.
I am going to USA for 1 week, if I have my friend do this on at&t activate and cancel line, do the sim swap described, will the phone be unlocked instantly or do I have to wait 60 days as some have pointed out before requesting an unlock?
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Last edited by schnitter March 4, 2024 at 03:48 PM.
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BulldogPunch
03-04-2024 at 04:27 PM.
03-04-2024 at 04:27 PM.
So just reading through these unlock steps and one quick question: Firmware flashing is different from rooting, right? Just worried about possibly voiding the warranty.
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03-04-2024 at 05:22 PM.
03-04-2024 at 05:22 PM.
Quote from BulldogPunch :
So just reading through these unlock steps and one quick question: Firmware flashing is different from rooting, right? Just worried about possibly voiding the warranty.

Yes, it's different from rooting and you are flashing with Samsung firmware.
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sdAM2012
03-04-2024 at 05:30 PM.
03-04-2024 at 05:30 PM.
If you flash to the unlocked firmware, will you get all the android updates?
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sdAM2012
03-04-2024 at 05:33 PM.
03-04-2024 at 05:33 PM.
Quote from gadgetNerd :
For VZW you don't have to be active and many verified that it unlocks after 60 days automatically from https://www.verizon.com/about/con...ing-policy


"Postpay Device Unlocking Policy

Devices that you purchase from Verizon are locked for 60 days after purchase. Devices that you purchase from our retail partners are locked for 60 days after activation. After 60 days, we will automatically remove the lock. Following the 60 day lock period, we do not lock our phones at any time. "

You are going to cancel the line after you get the phone so no activation fee plus plan changes.

If you are going to use it on other networks then ATT is better as you can instantly unlock it using the SIM swap method mentioned above.

So it's possible to sign up for an account, purchase the phone and pay the $700 upfront, cancel the account, and wait 60 days to unlock the phone, and then bring it to T-Mobile?
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03-04-2024 at 05:35 PM.
03-04-2024 at 05:35 PM.
Quote from schnitter :
I am going to USA for 1 week, if I have my friend do this on at&t activate and cancel line, do the sim swap described, will the phone be unlocked instantly or do I have to wait 60 days as some have pointed out before requesting an unlock?

It will be done instantly. If you can't do it for some reason then you can always return it.
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03-04-2024 at 05:36 PM.
03-04-2024 at 05:36 PM.
Quote from sdAM2012 :
If you flash to the unlocked firmware, will you get all the android updates?

Yes, you will get all regular updates. Flashed couple of galaxy phones already and then are receiving updates normally.
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gadgetNerd
03-04-2024 at 05:37 PM.
03-04-2024 at 05:37 PM.
Quote from sdAM2012 :
So it's possible to sign up for an account, purchase the phone and pay the $700 upfront, cancel the account, and wait 60 days to unlock the phone, and then bring it to T-Mobile?

Yup. That's what the policy says for VZW. If you do this with ATT you can get it unlocked instantly following the SIM swap method.
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Shan1384
03-04-2024 at 05:40 PM.
03-04-2024 at 05:40 PM.
I already have att...can I just buy and use my existing att sim?
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gadgetNerd
03-04-2024 at 05:49 PM.
03-04-2024 at 05:49 PM.
Quote from Shan1384 :
I already have att...can I just buy and use my existing att sim?

The prices are only for a new line or a new account so you will have to add a line to your account and then cancel.
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mplouisville
03-04-2024 at 05:56 PM.
03-04-2024 at 05:56 PM.
How can I get the tello number mentioned in original post if I am not in US at the moment?
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