Verizon

Verizon's iPhone promos span 36 months and require Unlimited Ultimate for maximum savings. Its offers have gotten aggressive: iPhone 17 and 17 Pro are available at no cost with a new line on Ultimate; 17 Pro Max is up to $1,100 off with trade-in; iPhone Air up to $1,000 off; iPhone 17e free with a new line on any Unlimited plan. Lower tiers (Welcome, Plus) qualify for reduced credit. Upgrades require the trade-in phone active on the account for 60 days.

T-Mobile

T-Mobile applies credits over 24 months (shorter than Verizon) and accepts trade-ins in any condition. It has dropped the trade requirement on several models: iPhone 17 is free with a new line on Experience Beyond/More or Better Value — no trade needed; 17 Pro is free with trade + a qualifying Experience plan; 17 Pro Max up to $1,100 off; iPhone Air free with a new switch. Maximum discounts require Experience Beyond ($110/mo). Switchers get up to $800/line to cover ETFs via virtual prepaid Mastercard.

AT&T

AT&T applies credits over 36 months and accepts iPhone 13 and newer plus select Android. iPhone 17 / 17 Pro are free with eligible trade-in on qualifying unlimited plans; 17 Pro Max up to $1,100 off; iPhone Air up to $830 off; iPhone 17e at $4.73/mo with trade-in. Base trade credit starts on ~$50/mo unlimited plans; the maximum ($1,100) requires a higher-tier plan (Unlimited Premium, ~$70+/mo).

iPhone 18 Pro: the launch offers

iPhone 18 Pro pre-orders opened September 12 with availability September 18, and Apple is listing carrier deals up to $1,200 in credit after trade-in. Apple's own wording is worth reading closely: the $1,200 applies when you trade in an iPhone 14 or later in any condition. A cracked, dead or otherwise unsellable phone still qualifies, which is unusual and is the single most valuable line in the announcement. Two carriers are in that programme, AT&T and T-Mobile; Verizon is not listed among them.

AT&T

Credits run over 36 months on a 0% APR installment plan, and the amount depends on both your trade-in and your plan tier. On most eligible unlimited plans the tiers are $1,200, $930 or $350 by trade-in model. Drop to Unlimited Extra 2.0 or Starter and the top tier disappears — it becomes $930 or $350. On Value 2.0 plans it is $500 or $350. There is a $35 activation or upgrade fee, and cancelling service stops the credits and leaves the device balance owing.

T-Mobile

T-Mobile accepts any-condition trade-ins on Experience Beyond 2.0, Experience Beyond and Go5G Next. For existing customers the credit is $1,200, $900 or $500 on those top plans, $900, $700 or $400 on Experience More 2.0, and as little as $300 or $150 on Experience Signature, Go5G, Magenta or Essentials. The 55+, military and first-responder versions of each plan receive less, not more: $1,000, $700 or $400 at the top tier.

T-Mobile also runs a no-trade-in offer for switchers: port in a number and receive up to $1,200 in bill credits over 24 or 36 months on Experience Beyond 2.0, or up to $900 on Experience More 2.0. A $35 device connection charge applies, and there is a limit of four promotions per account.

What the accessories cost from Apple

Useful as a price floor when you shop elsewhere: the TechWoven Case with MagSafe is $59, Silicone and Clear cases are $49, the FineWoven Wallet is $59, the Crossbody Strap is $59 and the Wrist Strap is $29. Note that fast charging is not included in the box — Apple specifies a 60W-capable USB-C adapter, sold separately, to hit 50 percent in around 15 minutes.

Carriers vs. buying from Apple

Buying direct from Apple gets you an unlocked phone free to move between carriers, prepaid services, and international SIMs. Apple's own trade-in values run lower than carrier promos (up to ~$700), but Apple Card Monthly Installments spread cost over 24 months at zero interest, and the iPhone Upgrade Program bundles AppleCare+ with a yearly upgrade after 12 payments. Go Apple if flexibility beats subsidy; go carrier if you'll genuinely stay 36 months on a qualifying plan anyway.

MVNOs play a different game: Visible pairs new lines with gift cards instead of bill credits, Boost runs aggressive no-trade-in discounts, Mint discounts phones with annual prepay, and the cable MVNOs (Xfinity, Spectrum) reserve their deepest cuts for internet customers. Smaller discounts — but no premium-plan requirement propping up the math.

How the deals actually work

• Bill credits, not upfront discounts — you finance full retail and the carrier offsets it monthly; net zero only if you finish the term.
• Trade-in valuation matters — the advertised max requires a current-gen flagship; get a real quote first.
• Plan tier requirements — max discounts always require the priciest unlimited plan; the plan cost is often the real cost.
• Early termination — cancel or downgrade and remaining credits forfeit; treat these as 24–36 month commitments.
• Switcher promos stack with trade-in — but usually arrive as virtual prepaid Mastercards, not bill credits.

Before you sign up

1. Get your trade-in's exact credit value from the carrier's estimator — don't rely on advertised maximums.
2. Add up the qualifying plan's cost over the full term.
3. Read the fine print on financing, early termination, and auto-pay requirements.
4. Confirm coverage at your address before committing.
5. Ask your current carrier's retention line to match — unadvertised deals often beat public switcher promos.