Counterpoint Research·2025-12-11 01:42Core Insights - Google led the postpaid promotional value ahead of Black Friday, but its promotional efforts were slightly weaker than Apple's during the event [4][5] - The postpaid promotional landscape remains competitive and evolving, with Google launching early promotions for the Pixel 10 series to capture holiday sales momentum [5][7] - Apple increased advertising efforts to catch up with Google, introducing aggressive promotions for the iPhone 17 series through T-Mobile and Verizon [7] - Samsung maintained strong promotional efforts in the postpaid market, although many offers required trade-ins or stricter plan conditions [7][8] Promotional Trends - Motorola and Samsung led the prepaid promotional market, with Metro offering significant discounts across various price tiers [8][10] - Total Wireless ranked second in promotional efforts, featuring substantial discounts on iPhone models during Black Friday [10] - The average promotional price rankings showed Motorola and Samsung tied for first, with TCL in third place [8] Market Dynamics - The foot traffic during Black Friday reflected economic conditions, with lower store visits compared to previous years [11] - The reliance on installment plans for smartphone purchases indicates resilience in the U.S. smartphone market under macroeconomic pressures [11] - The absence of tariffs on smartphone pricing due to agreements with India, Vietnam, and China has kept consumer costs stable [11]