Phones & Tablets

Best Apple iPhone Smartphones Alternatives for iPhone Xs Shoppers Buying Guide Black Friday Deals 2026

Best OverallApple iPhone 8 64GB Unlocked AT&T/T-Mobile/Verizon - Gray product image

Apple iPhone 8 64GB Unlocked AT&T/T-Mobile/Verizon – Gray

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Apple iPhone 8 64GB Unlocked AT&T/T-Mobile/Verizon – Gray (ASIN B0H8F9BKZJ)
Best BudgetApple iPhone 7 32GB Unlocked AT&T/T-Mobile - Silver product image

Apple iPhone 7 32GB Unlocked AT&T/T-Mobile – Silver

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Apple iPhone 7 32GB Unlocked AT&T/T-Mobile – Silver (ASIN B0CCSF3WML)
Best for an unlocked 256GB newer-model optioniPhone 17 Pro Deep Blue 256GB (Unlocked) product image

iPhone 17 Pro Deep Blue 256GB (Unlocked)

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iPhone 17 Pro Deep Blue 256GB (Unlocked) (ASIN B0FQFMB4BG)

Best Apple Iphone Smartphones Alternatives for Iphone Xs Shoppers Buying Guide — Black Friday Deals 2026

masstec compares related Amazon options for the iphone xs search. The names shown below identify the actual featured models.

Are you looking for an iPhone XS specifically, or would you consider a related Apple iPhone at a different point in the lineup? The options here are not iPhone XS models: they are the iPhone 7, iPhone 8, and iPhone 17 Pro. Their listed details point to different shopping priorities, from stated display and camera information to an unlocked 256GB newer-model option. For Black Friday shopping, treat them as alternatives to compare—not as proof that an iPhone XS or a Black Friday promotion is available. Start with the model name and exact variant, then decide which confirmed details matter to you. This guide keeps the comparison grounded in the supplied listings and offers checkpoints for reviewing the current item before choosing.

Apple iPhone 8 64GB Unlocked AT&T/T-Mobile/Verizon – Gray

Best OverallApple iPhone 8 64GB Unlocked AT&T/T-Mobile/Verizon - Gray product imageCheck Price on Amazon

Apple iPhone 8 64GB Unlocked AT&T/T-Mobile/Verizon – Gray (ASIN B0H8F9BKZJ)

Best Overall is the editorial fit for the iPhone 8 among these three listings, not a claim of measured superiority. It is an older-model alternative to an iPhone XS search, with a 4.7-inch LCD, 64 GB of storage, and iOS 16 listed. The product name identifies it as gray and unlocked for AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon. Its listed processor is Apple A11 Bionic, and its connector is Lightning. Those details give shoppers concrete points to compare with their own preferences instead of relying on the broad label “iPhone.”

This option may suit someone who wants the stated 64 GB capacity and a 4.7-inch LCD in an Apple phone, and who is comfortable considering a model other than the XS. The listing also identifies LTE network technology. That is a detail to weigh alongside the named carrier compatibility, not a substitute for checking that the exact phone and service arrangement suit your needs. If you are looking at this during Black Friday, compare the particular iPhone 8 listing you intend to buy; an event name alone does not establish that a discount applies.

The package detail is unusually specific: the listing says it includes a new cable only. Treat that as the stated accessory information and confirm the exact product page before ordering if included items matter to you. The listing identifies the connector as Lightning, but the cable detail does not establish that other accessories are included. A useful Black Friday comparison is therefore more than a glance at the model name: check the color, storage, network wording, operating system, display description, and package note together. This iPhone 8 is a considered alternative when those stated details align with your priorities, not a replacement presented as an iPhone XS.

Key specs

Operating system iOS 16
Processor Apple A11 Bionic
Storage 64 GB
Display 4.7 inches
Display type LCD
Connector Lightning
Network technology LTE
Included accessory Includes a new cable only.

Apple iPhone 7 32GB Unlocked AT&T/T-Mobile – Silver

Best BudgetApple iPhone 7 32GB Unlocked AT&T/T-Mobile - Silver product imageCheck Price on Amazon

Apple iPhone 7 32GB Unlocked AT&T/T-Mobile – Silver (ASIN B0CCSF3WML)

Best Budget is the editorial label for the iPhone 7 in this group; it does not promise the lowest current price or an active Black Friday offer. This is another older-model alternative rather than an iPhone XS. Its listing names a silver, 32 GB iPhone 7 and describes a 4.7-inch Retina HD display. For shoppers weighing an alternative by its disclosed screen and storage information, those are useful starting points. The label is a way to organize this shortlist, not a market-wide award or a measurement of value.

The camera information is more detailed here than for the other listed options: the rear camera is described as 12MP with 4K video at 30 fps, and the front camera as a 7MP FaceTime HD camera with Retina Flash. The software wording says the iOS version is upgradable to 15.8.5. Read that as the listing’s stated upgrade information rather than a promise about any particular app, future update, or use case. On Black Friday, shoppers can compare those exact descriptions with the details they consider important without assuming unlisted capabilities.

Carrier wording deserves particular attention for this item. The listing says it is unlocked and compatible with AT&T, T-Mobile, and service providers that use the AT&T or T-Mobile network. It does not list the same carrier wording as the iPhone 8 product name, so do not treat the two descriptions as interchangeable. Verify the exact listing and your service requirements before choosing. Also confirm the silver color and 32 GB variant on the item page you plan to order. The iPhone 7 may fit a shopper willing to consider this specific older model and its stated details, but it should not be mistaken for an iPhone XS or for an established Black Friday deal.

Key specs

Storage 32 GB
Display 4.7″ Retina HD display
Rear camera 12MP camera and 4K video at 30 fps
Front camera 7MP FaceTime HD camera with Retina Flash
Software IOS Version upgradable to 15.8.5
Network compatibility Unlocked and Compatible with AT&T / Tmobile and all Service providers that Use AT&T / Tmobile Network.

iPhone 17 Pro Deep Blue 256GB (Unlocked)

Best for an unlocked 256GB newer-model optioniPhone 17 Pro Deep Blue 256GB (Unlocked) product imageCheck Price on Amazon

iPhone 17 Pro Deep Blue 256GB (Unlocked) (ASIN B0FQFMB4BG)

Best for an unlocked 256GB newer-model option is the editorial label for the iPhone 17 Pro. The product name identifies it as Deep Blue, 256GB, and unlocked, while the supplied listing details identify Apple as the brand and give model number MG7M4LL/A. The substitution scope describes it as a newer model compared with the iPhone 7 and iPhone 8. It is still not an iPhone XS, so this is a choice for someone open to moving to a different model rather than finding the requested model itself.

The confirmed details here support a focused decision: the listed capacity is 256GB, the color is Deep Blue, and the product is described as unlocked. The listing also specifies a bar form factor and item dimensions of 6.63 x 3.52 x 1.14 inches. Consider whether those named details answer your priorities, and review the exact product page for any information you need that is not covered here. Do not infer a particular screen, camera, operating system, or network capability from the model name or from the details supplied in this guide.

For Black Friday browsing, compare this exact iPhone 17 Pro variant with the exact alternatives you are considering. Confirm that the item page still names the Deep Blue, 256GB unlocked version and matches model number MG7M4LL/A; a different variant is not automatically the same comparison. The Black Friday label does not itself establish a promotion, a price reduction, or availability. This option is most relevant when your search can include a newer-model alternative and the stated capacity and unlocked description are priorities. If you specifically require an iPhone XS, none of the three featured products meets that model-name requirement.

Key specs

Model number MG7M4LL/A
Brand Apple
Form factor Bar
Item dimensions 6.63 x 3.52 x 1.14 inches

Decide what “alternative” means for your search

Before comparing listings, decide whether you need the iPhone XS itself or are open to another Apple iPhone. That distinction matters here: the three featured products are an iPhone 7, an iPhone 8, and an iPhone 17 Pro. They are related shopping options, not versions of the requested XS. If the exact model is essential, use the product name as a first filter and do not let a general iPhone category label blur the difference.

If you are flexible, write down the reason you are considering a substitute. You might be prioritizing a stated display size, a particular storage capacity, detailed camera wording, or a newer-model option. Then compare only information actually supplied for each listing. The iPhone 8 has a 4.7-inch LCD and 64 GB; the iPhone 7 has a 4.7-inch Retina HD display and 32 GB; the iPhone 17 Pro is listed as 256GB. These facts make a shortlist more useful, but do not establish that one is best for everyone.

During Black Friday browsing, keep the model requirement separate from the event. A seasonal search does not turn an alternative into an XS, nor does it prove that an offer is promotional. If you are willing to choose among these models, use the same priorities for each and check the exact product page before deciding.

Read capacity and display descriptions as personal filters

Storage and display details are practical filters because they are explicitly stated for two of the three listings. The iPhone 7 is listed with 32 GB and a 4.7-inch Retina HD display. The iPhone 8 is listed with 64 GB and a 4.7-inch LCD. The iPhone 17 Pro name gives a 256GB capacity, but the supplied details do not specify its display. Avoid filling in that gap from assumptions about the model.

Think about what you want to confirm before you shop. If capacity is a deciding factor, compare the capacity on the exact variant page rather than relying on a search snippet or a neighboring product option. If the display description matters, keep the wording intact: LCD and Retina HD are the listing terms for the iPhone 8 and iPhone 7 respectively. No single description establishes which screen will suit your preferences; that is a personal choice.

For a Black Friday comparison, make a short note of the model, capacity, and display wording for each candidate. Check that those details still match the item you are considering, especially if the page offers variants. This avoids comparing one model’s stated capacity with another model’s general name, or assuming missing information is a feature. Use the confirmed details to narrow choices, then consult the exact listing for anything else you need to know.

Treat carrier and unlocked wording as separate checks

The network descriptions are not identical, so read them closely rather than treating “unlocked” as a complete compatibility answer. The iPhone 8 product name says unlocked for AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon, and its listed network technology is LTE. The iPhone 7 listing says unlocked and compatible with AT&T, T-Mobile, and service providers that use the AT&T or T-Mobile network. The iPhone 17 Pro product name says unlocked, but the supplied details do not give a carrier list.

Those distinctions make a useful checkpoint for any shopper whose service matters. Compare the precise wording on the exact product page with your own requirements, and seek confirmation where the listing does not answer a question. Do not assume the iPhone 7’s carrier wording applies to the iPhone 8 or iPhone 17 Pro, or that the iPhone 8’s named carrier list applies to the others. The information given here does not settle every service-specific question.

Black Friday can make it tempting to focus on the event or the apparent offer first. Keep compatibility in the decision instead: verify the selected model and variant, review its network language, and confirm anything uncertain before purchase. This is a comparison task, not a guarantee that an unlocked listing works with every service or configuration.

Use camera, software, and package details only where stated

The iPhone 7 listing supplies rear- and front-camera descriptions and software wording: a 12MP rear camera with 4K video at 30 fps, a 7MP FaceTime HD camera with Retina Flash, and an iOS version upgradable to 15.8.5. The iPhone 8 listing identifies iOS 16 and the Apple A11 Bionic processor. The iPhone 17 Pro details provided here do not specify camera or software information. Keep these distinctions visible when you compare rather than assuming each product page includes the same information.

A specification is a useful point to investigate, not a promise about a particular result in every situation. If camera or software details are central to your choice, read the wording on the exact item page and make sure it answers your own questions. Do not extend the iPhone 7’s camera specifications to another model, or infer an unlisted iPhone 17 Pro feature from its name.

Package contents also deserve a literal reading. The iPhone 8 listing says it includes a new cable only. That is the provided accessory detail; it does not establish what may accompany the other products. For Black Friday shopping, check the package information for the exact variant you plan to buy and avoid assuming that accessories are shared across listings. These checks help you compare confirmed details without adding expectations the descriptions do not support.

Build a Black Friday comparison around the exact listing

A useful Black Friday shortlist starts with the exact product identity, not an event banner. Confirm whether the item is the iPhone 7, iPhone 8, or iPhone 17 Pro, then verify the identifying details you care about: color, capacity, carrier wording, and any stated specifications. For the iPhone 17 Pro, the supplied model number is MG7M4LL/A; the other product names identify their own color and storage variants. A different variant deserves its own review rather than an automatic comparison.

Next, compare the current offer as it appears on the item page. The information in this guide does not establish an active Black Friday promotion, a discount, stock status, or seller terms. Do not treat the seasonal wording in a search as evidence of any of those things. Check the exact item and offer together, and make sure that the product details still match the version you intended to consider.

Finally, revisit your reason for shopping. If you need the XS specifically, these products are not that model. If you welcome alternatives, use the disclosed facts to decide which listing merits further review, then verify unanswered questions directly on its exact page. That approach keeps the Black Friday comparison grounded in the product and offer actually presented, rather than assumptions about the season or a neighboring variant.

Make your Black Friday choice

For an iPhone XS search, the key decision is whether an alternative is acceptable: these listings are the iPhone 7, iPhone 8, and iPhone 17 Pro, not an XS. The iPhone 8 is the Best Overall editorial pick in this group, the iPhone 7 is Best Budget, and the iPhone 17 Pro is the unlocked 256GB newer-model option; those labels organize the shortlist, not a market-wide verdict. Before a Black Friday purchase, check the exact model and variant, confirm the listing’s stated details against your priorities, review network and package wording where relevant, and inspect the current offer without assuming a promotion. If a requirement remains unanswered, verify it on the exact product page before choosing.

Affiliate disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, masstec earns from qualifying purchases.