iPhones Cost More Than Ever but We Found a Workaround With These Deals

Trading in an older, eligible device can take up to $885 off your purchase if you buy directly from Apple. The exact trade-in value will depend on the condition of your device, but the most recent phones will net you the biggest savings. Apple is also offering 3% cash back with the Apple Card,* and you can save even more when you sign up with a carrier.

Verizon is offering an Apple Watch Series 12 and an iPad A16 at no extra cost when you buy a new phone and add service plans for all three devices. The savings are applied as promotional credits over 36 months. The carrier is also waiving the usual $40 activation fee for new customers.

AT&T has its own trade-in program. It’s offering up to $1,200 off your purchase when you trade in a device valued at $180 or more and activate on AT&T Premium 2.0, which means you can get the basic iPhone 18 Pro for free. Activating a new line online can save you an extra $200, and AT&T may also pay up to $800 toward what you owe your current carrier.

Best Buy doesn’t currently have unlocked iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max models, but it is offering them through AT&T and Verizon. Trading in an older device can save you up to $1,200 when you add a new line on Verizon.

Signing up for AT&T’s Premium 2.0 plan while trading in can also take up to $1,200 off your purchase or up to $930 with other plans.

New members can save up to $930 by trading in a qualifying device. The offer requires a new Mobile Plus line. If you choose to upgrade your current line, you can save up to $500 with a trade-in.

Ordering an iPhone 18 Pro or 18 Pro Max gets you $480 service credit on the Visible Plus Pro plan at $45 per month. There’s also a trade-in offer you can take advantage of. 

You can save up to $640 on your new iPhone 18 Pro or Pro Max when you trade in an older device. New customers can also save 50% on the yearly subscription of the Unlimited plan, which brings its price down to $180. 

Choosing an Unlimited plan with your new phone can save up to $200, dropping the starting price of the iPhone 18 Pro to $1,000.

One of the easiest ways to save on a new iPhone is by trading in your old model. Apple offers up to $885 in trade-in credit, but only for one of its latest models. Older iPhones, as well as phones from Samsung, Google and other brands, are also accepted but won’t be worth quite as much. You’ll also get 3% cash back when you purchase with an Apple Card.*

Right now, T-Mobile customers who have or upgrade to an Experience Beyond or Experience More plan can get up to $1,100 back in bill credits, which nets you the iPhone 17 Pro, Air or basic model for free with an eligible trade-in.

Plus, T-Mobile is also offering up to $730 off with both a trade-in and a new line on most plans. You can also get up to $800 to pay off your current contract if you’re looking to switch carriers. There are also special offers for military members, first responders and folks 55 or older.

You can save big on the iPhone 17 series with a trade-in of any condition at AT&T. Devices valued at just $130 or more will knock up to $930 off, which means you’d get the basic iPhone 17 for free and the Air for less than $1 a month. Plus, even older and damaged devices valued at $35 or more will net you up to $350 in trade-in credit. Discounts are applied as bill credits over 36 months. Adding a new line on an installment plan also takes hundreds off the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max models.

You will also get $800 when you switch from other carriers and $200 off when you purchase it online.

Best Buy isn’t carrying any unlocked models, but does have availability for AT&T and Verizon customers. There aren’t any special offers at the moment, but you can save up to $930 with Verizon or $830 with AT&T toward your new phone in exchange for your old one. The latest iPhones will net you the biggest discount, but phones from Samsung, Google and many other brands are also accepted.

If you have an older device to trade in, you can get between $35 and $885 in credit toward your new iPhone Air. You’ll also get 3% cash back when you purchase with an Apple Card.* Apple also partners with carriers, including AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile and Boost Mobile, which offer an enhanced trade-in credit of up to $1,100 if you’re looking for a service plan.

T-Mobile is offering a few ways to get your hands on the iPhone Air for less right now. Trading in an old phone or opening a new line could score you the basic model for less than $3 a month if you’re on the Experience Beyond plan. You’ll save up to $830 with the Experience More plan or up to $300 with most other plans.

T-Mobile is also offering $730 off with both a trade-in and a new line on most plans, and there are special offers for military members, first responders, and people over 55.

If you’re a new customer, purchasing the iPhone Air on an installment plan at AT&T will save you up to $884 on the basic iPhone Air, up to $868 on the 512GB model and up to $1,052 on the 1TB model.

It’s not required for this deal, but AT&T does have its own trade-in program where you can save even more in exchange for your old phone. Plus, there is an $800 reward if you break your current phone contract and switch to AT&T. Discounts will be applied as bill credits over 36 months.

Best Buy has knocked $260 off the 256GB unlocked iPhone Air, which brings the starting price down to $840. Additionally, you can score more savings if you have an older device to trade in. You’ll also get one free month of Apple TV, two free months of Apple News Plus and three free months of Apple Music, Apple Arcade and Apple Fitness Plus with the purchase, as long as you’re a new or returning subscriber. 

Apple notably doesn’t offer any direct discounts, but if you have a device to trade in, you can score up to $885 off this new phone, although most trade-ins won’t net you that much. You could also get 3% cash back with an Apple Card.*

You can grab the 256GB configuration for $0 when you add a new line on an eligible plan, no trade-in required. The deal also drops the 512GB to just over $6 a month. Keep in mind that this offer is valid only on online purchases. If AT&T isn’t your current carrier, it will give you up to $800 to break your contract.

Best Buy isn’t offering any direct discounts at the moment, but it does have its own trade-in program where you can score some savings in exchange for your old phone. Just note that there aren’t any unlocked models available, so you’ll have to activate the phone through AT&T or Verizon. 

You also get freebies like three free months of Apple Fitness Plus, Apple Music and Apple Arcade and one free month of Apple TV Plus.

Optimum is letting you snag the new iPhone 17E for free when you trade in your old device. Just keep in mind that you don’t get the cash all at once — it shows up as small credits on your bill every month for three years. You just have to trade in your old phone within 21 days of getting the new one, and you’re good to go.

If you don’t mind purchasing a renewed phone, you can pick up a certified refurbished, unlocked iPhone 16 directly from Apple. All of the configurations are available to purchase.

Trading in your old phone at Apple could save you up to $885 on any iPhone 16 model. Newer iPhones will net the biggest discount, but Apple also accepts devices from Samsung, Google and OnePlus. You’ll also get 3% cash back if you buy it with your Apple Card.*

You can get up to $800 to break your current contract if you’re looking to switch carriers to AT&T, plus up to $200 off with activation of a new line. Of course, if you have another device, you can save even more with a trade-in.

Best Buy has knocked the starting price of the white iPhone 16E to $520, which saves you $90. You can save even more if you have another device to trade in.

You’ll also score a free month of Xbox Game Pass and Apple TV, two months of Apple News Plus and three months of Apple Fitness Plus, Apple Music and Apple Arcade.

Customers on Boost Mobile’s $60-per-month Unlimited Premium plan will automatically get $450 off the iPhone 16E. That puts the 128GB model in your pocket for just $150. But if you port your number in from a different carrier, you can save up to $570. Both offers require you to prepay two months upfront. The 512GB version is currently out of stock.

You can order the iPhone 16E from Walmart for $449, or pay a little more than $12 per month for 36 months with an eligible AT&T activation.

Apple has the unlocked iPhone 15 Plus if you’re OK with a certified, renewed model from Apple. It also has renewed, unlocked iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max models at as well.